The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, has promised that the 10th National Assembly will not be a “rubber-stamp” house. He made this assertion during an interview with State House correspondents in Abuja after meeting with President Bola Tinubu in his office. According to Abbas, the House, which he would preside over, would challenge the executive if it finds things are going against the interests of the public.
Abbas noted that members of the house expressed their votes across party lines, contrary to what he described as conversations and media propaganda. He further promised that the 10th assembly would harmonise with the executive to improve efficiency or challenge policies where necessary towards the development of the country.
While commenting on his emergence as the Speaker, he said, “When we started this campaign, it was always good. But the impact of social media propaganda of some of the contestants distorted the entire picture of what was on the ground.
“But to God be the glory, today, people have seen our level of popularity and acceptance by our members. And it has put to shame those who always thought that we were imposed by the party and that we don’t have the numbers. Today, people have seen a record that has never been established in the past. 353 out of 359 members elected us. It is unprecedented; it has never ever happened in the history of Parliament”.
While commenting on the possibility of being a rubber stamp house, he said, “If you talk about rubber stamp? Look at the acceptance rate of those who have elected those across party lines, almost the entire PDP, SDP, ADC, and all other minority parties voted for us. So if they feel that we are going to be rubber stamps, do you think they will elect us? No.
“They believe that we will safeguard the sanctity of the National Assembly, the legislators; we will always separate our independence and we will relate and be able to harmonize with the executive where necessary. But where there is a conflict of interest, we feel that the executive is or wants to do something that is not in the interest of the public. They know that we’ll stand up against that”.
Recall that the member representing Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, who was the anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeated Idris Wase and Aminu Jaji in a voice vote at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. The election saw Abbas earn 352 votes of 359 votes cast in total, while Jaji and Wase polled three votes each.
-
The 10th National Assembly promises not to be a rubber-stamp to the executive.
-
The members of the house expressed their votes across party lines.
-
The 10th assembly would work on harmonizing with the executive to improve efficiency or challenge policies where necessary towards the development of the country.
-
Abbas assures that the house will safeguard the sanctity of the National Assembly and bring to light anything against the interests of the public.
-
Abbas emerged victorious in a voice vote at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Source: Information Nigeria
