Reps committed to Nigerians safety, wellbeing – Gbajabiamila

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has restated the commitment of the lawmakers to doing what was required of the 9th Assembly to make sure the country can overcome the serious national security challenges that currently threaten the safety and wellbeing of Nigerians.

Gbajabiamila made the commitment, Friday, while declaring opened the National Security Legislative Reform retreat for the leadership and chairmen of committees on security and sponsors of security bills of the House of Representatives in Ikeja, Lagos state.

The three-day retreat is a partnership between Konrad Adenaur Stiftung, a German foundation, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), the House of Representatives and the foreign office of the Federal Republic of Germany.

According to the Speaker, “The bills we have gathered here in Lagos to review are the product of an ongoing collaboration between my office, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation (KAS) and the House Committee on Monitoring and Implementation of the Legislative Agenda.”

Gbajabiamila, who was represented by the Minority leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, who was represented by the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu , explained that the bills reflect the recommendations for legislative action made by security experts and policymakers at the recently concluded special summit on national security.

Gbajabiamila said the retreat, in addition to reviewing bills under consideration, was an opportunity for the lawmakers to propose and consider additional security reform suggestions.

In his remark, Resident Representative of KAS, Dr. Vladimir Kreck, said KAS, a German political foundation, associated with the German ruling party, the Christian Democratic Union, has been supporting the security sector reform in Nigeria.

In his remark, Consul General, German Consulate in Lagos, Dr. Stefan Traumann said over the years, Nigeria and Germany enjoy cordial relations but in security and economics spanning over 160 years, noting that the German government would continue to strengthen support for the Nigerian people and its government.

The Chairman, Committee on Legislative Agenda, House of Representatives, Henry Nwawuba, said the committee was working on several bills that have to do with safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians, noting that the retreat in Lagos is intended to help collect opinions and suggestions in order to have comprehensive bills.

Earlier in his comment, DG, National Institute for Legislative & Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, explained that the key issues of security has been dominated by the executive arms of the government, noting that it is high time the legislative arm began to be active on issues of security in the country.