Executive, legislature relationship improved under Buhari -Lawan

By Musa Adamu

President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan has said the relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms of government received an unprecedented boost with the coming of the 9th National Assembly.
According to Lawan, both chambers of the Legislature presently enjoy the highest level of cooperation from the executive arm of government since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
Lawan stated this in his concluding remarks on Tuesday before the Senate adjourned sitting till October 29, 2019.
He said: “This is the first time when a President will announce that none of his Ministers or any head of agencies should travel out of the country at this time without defending his or her budget.
“This is the highest level of cooperation that we have ever got in this National Assembly since 1999,” Lawan said.
The Senate President urged the National Assembly to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring the timely passage of the 2020 budget before the end of December.
Meanwhile, a total of 10 bills passed first reading on the floor during plenary on Tuesday.
The bills are: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central); National Energy Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto East); National Agricultural Programme Coordinating Agency (Est.) Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Stella Oduah (PDP, Anambra North); Federal University of Technology, Ilaro Bill, 2019, by Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West), and Federal College of Education Mutum Biyu (Est.) Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Abubakar Yusuf (APC, Taraba Central).
Others are: Federal College of Education of Education (Technical) Abakaliki (Est.) Bill, 2019, by Senator Samuel Egwu (PDP, Ebonyi North); Public Procurement Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill, 2019, by Senator Shuaibu Isa (PDP, Taraba North); National Road Fund (Est.) Bill, 2019, by Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South); National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2019, by Senator Uche Ekwunife (PDP, Anambra Central), and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2019, sponsored by Babba Kaita Ahmad (APC, Katsina North).