Buhari Tasks Lawmakers on Quick Passage of Pending Bills

Buhari Tasks Lawmakers on Quick Passage of Pending Bills

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday tasked lawmakers to give speedy attention to some important bills pending in the national Assembly.

According to the Punch, Buhari made the appeal during a dinner held in honour of National Assembly members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of activities to mark his first anniversary in office.

Buhari who promised to respect the separation of power entrenched in the constitution urged the lawmakers to give the bills accelerated consideration and passage as they approached the completion of one legislative year on June 9, 2016.

Some of the bills Buhari asked the lawmakers to give accelerated attention to include the Bills for Acts of Domestication of Agreements for avoidance of double taxation between Nigeria and South Korea, Spain and Sweden respectively; Federal Capital Territory Appropriation Bill 2016;  Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill 2016; Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill 2016; and the Statutory Budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission 2016.

The President said, “I hereby restate the commitment of this administration to observe the principles of separation of powers which defines and delineates the functions and powers of each arm of government.

“Thus far, we in the executive have restricted ourselves to our constitutional roles.

“Therefore I, as the President, and we as the Executive arm of government, will not interfere in the functions, functioning and process of the Legislature nor the Judiciary.

“In the same vein, I urge other arms of government to please appraise and ensure that each action conceived and taken is in strict accord with its constitutionally limited powers.”