Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen said on Friday that the unity of the nation and participation of the citizens in governance remain a top priority of the 10th National Assembly.
The Speaker who spoke at the regional roundtable with the leadership of the House in Zaria said that without unity not the country it will be difficult to achieve any meaningful development across the country.
Represented by the former leader of the House and Leader of the Northern caucus in the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, the Speaker said legitimacy and effectiveness of the legislature are fundamentally interwoven with the trust and confidence bestowed upon it by the citizenry.
According to him, the ‘Citizens’ Roundtable’ with the leadership of the 10th ‘House’ is a continuation of its deliberate agenda to involve citizens in the activities of the House and engage with the people “we are privileged to serve and account for our stewardship”.
He said the interactive meeting aligns with the mid-term report of the 10th House of Representatives, through which it reflects on the progress made so far and reaffirm its dedication to the priorities of the people and nation over the past two years.
He said that at the inauguration of the 10th House on June 13, 2023, “we immediately acknowledged the fact that our legitimacy and effectiveness are fundamentally interwoven with the trust and confidence bestowed upon us by the citizenry.
“This chamber is indisputably theirs, and we are stewards of their collective will, entrusted with the solemn task of advancing their interests.
“Fully aware of this critical duty, we prioritised creating pathways for transparent dialogue, embracing constructive critique, and fostering collaborative approaches to addressing national challenges.
“Since that landmark day, citizen engagement has been meticulously integrated as one of the mainstreams of our 8-point Legislative Agenda. Through a series of substantive consultations, we have sought public perspectives on key legislative priorities and pressing national issues.
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“From focused discussions on appropriation and state policing to deliberations on national security, economic resilience, political inclusion, and equitable gender representation, we have remained unwavering in our commitment to aligning our legislative efforts with the dynamic aspirations of the people we serve.
“We acknowledge that the voices of the citizenry are of paramount significance, serving as the solemn foundation upon which impactful legislations, transformative policies, and consequential decisions are made and enacted.
“Our steadfast commitment to a flourishing democracy is deeply entrenched in the principle of active and meaningful civic engagement because we are convinced that a forum such as this, characterized by unfettered dialogue, the intellectual exchange of ideas, and incisive constructive critique, is vital in equipping the leadership of our nation to adeptly handle the complexities of governance, steering the state towards sustained progress and collective prosperity.
“This Roundtable, therefore, embodies our resolute dedication to cultivating a robust and symbiotic relationship between the House and the citizenry. It is proof that our determination to ensure that governance remains inclusive, reflective, and attuned to the aspirations of those whose mandate we are privileged to uphold.
“This Roundtable is evidence that our dedication to fostering a dynamic and symbiotic relationship between the 10th House and the people is yielding results. This gathering, therefore, validates our pledge to nurture collaboration, inviting participants to share incisive perspectives, propose viable solutions, and enrich our legislative agenda with their invaluable contributions.
The Minister of State for Education, Sawaiba Ahmed who was represented at the event by Prof. Ali Idris expressed concern about the increasing level of out of school children in the country, majority of which he said comes from the North.
The Minister also expressed concern about the high level of what she called out-of-school illiteracy, adding that many graduates in the country today cannot construct a complete sentence.