The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, says that Notwithstanding the limitation of time, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the Constitutional Amendment Bill and other critical bills already at Report stage will be passed.
Tambuwal who stated this while welcoming members from a one month recess added that another important bill is the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which has already been passed by both Chambers.
According to him, “The House of Representatives has already constituted her harmonization committee and I believe that the Senate will do same expeditiously so that we can wrap up soonest. This is very critical as the amendments contained therein provide the clear legal framework for participation in the electoral process by Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s), whose numbers are, no doubt, substantial”.
On the issue of election postponement the Speaker said “This singular act has inflicted an indelible dent on the integrity of the 2015 Elections and indeed the country’s entire electoral process.
Alhaji Tambuwal said the government owes Nigerians a duty to make deliberate and honest efforts to restore public confidence in the process and it’s commitment to free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections.
Civic Responsibility
He commended political parties, civil society, the International Community and indeed all Nigerians for the maturity employed in handling the postponement.
The Speaker appealed to all Nigerians to sustain the spirit and zeal so that on the rescheduled dates, they will go out en mass and exercise their civic responsibility of casting their votes for candidates of their choice without hindrance.
He also commended the Armed Forces and Security Agencies who are laying down their lives daily in pursuance of the military action against insurgency in the North Eastern States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
According to him “Our Armed Forces have over the years proven themselves gallantly in both national as well as international assignments and we are confident that the present challenge will not be an exception.
Alhaji Tambuwal reminded Nigerians that Nigeria belongs to all and not to politicians or other persons of unbridled ambition.
He stressed that any ambition that fails to recognise and respect overriding national interest must halt or be halted.