President Muhammadu Buhari issued a stern warning to Ministers and all heads of Departments and Agencies to always conduct themselves before the National Assembly.
President Buhari gave the warning when he played host to the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila at the State House, Aso Villa on Thursday.
A statement to newsmen by his Spokesman, Garba Shehu, detailing the meeting, said it lasted for almost an hour.
According to Garba Shehu, the National Assembly leaders engaged the President on issues of national importance particularly on the relationship between the two arms of government.
They discussed the role of the legislature as a critical component in supporting the government’s common goal and commitment towards improving the lives of the people of Nigeria.
Shehu said recent events at the National Assembly were highlighted in the meeting “and the President re-emphasized his utmost respect for the National Assembly, adding that any disrespect to the institution by any member of the executive branch will not be accepted.”
“Ministers and all heads of Departments and Agencies should at all times conduct themselves in ways that will not undermine the National Assembly as an institution, its leadership and members,” Buhari said.
Also the statement quoted the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan as saying that the National Assembly under his watch “recognized and acknowledged that the Executive and Legislative arms of government are essential partners in the fulfillment of their mutually aligned goal of improving the lives of the Nigerian people.”
Recall that the Acting Managing Director (MD) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, had yesterday walked out of the National Assembly Committee probing the activities of the Commission.
Before then, one of the meetings between the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, had ended in a shouting march as the Minister accused legislators of trying to control recruitment.
