The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen on Tuesday expressed the readiness of the 10th House to collaborate with the United Nations towards addressing the security challenges and the inherent socio-economic impacts in Nigeria.
Speaker Abbas, however, called for better coordination and harmonisation of interventions by foreign bodies to maximise benefits of the limited resources.
The Speaker, while receiving the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations (UN)in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Fall, and his team in Abuja on Tuesday, decried that resources have been wasted in the past due to duplication of programmes and projects by the federal, state, and local governments as well as foreign donors.
He, therefore, called for better synergy between the FG, sub-nationals, and the National Assembly. He noted that the projects emanating from the National Assembly to the sub-nationals and the LGAs run into billions of naira.
Speaker Abbas said: “I also want to acknowledge all the issues you have mentioned concerning the problems bedeviling our dear country, in particular the North, where you have so much familiarity. It is true; the centre of gravity as far as insecurity and other challenges is shifting from the North-East to the North-West. We are very appreciative that you have already identified that early.”
The Speaker also urged the UN and its agencies to ensure inclusivity and stakeholders’ engagement on their projects, adding that local communities and traditional rulers should be carried along. He further called for regular regional consultative forums.
While congratulating Fall on his latest appointment, the Speaker said: “Nigeria is a familiar territory to you. You have been here before. You know the geography of the country. And to some great extent, you are also familiar with the issues and challenges of the country.”
He added: “You are from West Africa; the majority of the problems in Nigeria are similar to the ones you will find in other (West African) countries. So, we believe that your appointment is deliberate. We believe in your capacity and the experience you have already acquired.
“I want to categorically inform you that we in the House are pleased with and elated by your appointment. We wish to collaborate with you and all the agencies under the United Nations.
“I acknowledge the ongoing collaborations with the UN. You are doing very well. Just last week, we had a similar opportunity – a very historic one – of signing a Parliamentary Development Programme Agreement with the UNDP on developing the capacity of the National Assembly, the House of Representatives, especially, and the staff.
“This is historic and unprecedented in the history of our parliament. We thank you very much for this important initiative.”
Earlier, Mr. Fall noted that the meeting with the Speaker was “indeed long overdue,” adding that the intention was based on “a very complex assignment that I am undertaking.”
The UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria also noted that while he is from Senegal, the African sub-region “look up to Nigeria in the region.”
He said in part: “I will need the support of the Hon. Speaker. I will need your guidance and your wisdom. For us in the UN, if we make it in Nigeria, we will make it in the rest of the sub-region.”
He also noted that “one of the indicators that we are monitoring as the UN is the food prices,” saying, “I really need your support and having come from Kenya and seeing economic deterioration.”
Mr. Fall stressed the need to stem the impact of the economic challenges on the people.
“I will be coming from time to time. I will be in touch for guidance on some of our initiatives,” he said.
Part of the UN delegation were the Peace Development Advisor, Kim TooGood; Consultant to the UN, Hajiya Maryam Uwais, and the Press Officer to the UN, Seyi Soremekun.
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