President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has emphasised that both the Executive and Legislative arms of government are neither in competition nor in battle for supremacy.
President Jonathan stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the National Conference on Executive-Legislature Relations, organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, with the theme, ‘Strengthening Executive-Legislative Collaboration in Governance.’
The President, who was represented by Vice President Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo at the event, said “we are messengers sent to bring democratic goods. Our roles, duties and responsibilities are well defined and there is no reason whatsoever for us not to work together for the greatness of our country.”
He used the occasion to reiterate his commitment to ensuring cordial relations among all the three arms of government, adding that “I have maintained a policy of non-interference in the affairs of the National Assembly. Today, we have a stable National Assembly and a cordial atmosphere suitable for the conduct of parliamentary business”.
The President who acknowledged that there could be disagreements once in a while and that political parties may differ, however, stressed that it should not be allowed to be dividing force or blown out of proportion, maintaining that “What Nigerians want and deserve is good governance to the highest standards”.
According to the President the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature is not about the two arms but it is about the governed, observing that “it is about harnessing our constitutional powers and God-given talents, and deploying our positions as public servants to drive our progress as a nation.”
He congratulated the organisers for their foresight noting that the event was apt and in line with his administrations Transformation Agenda. “This is one conference that I have looked forward to be part of, because of its significance in my governance philosophy.”
In their separate remarks the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, while commending the organisers of the conference stressed the importance of partnership between the executive and the legislature in the deliverance of good governance and dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
Earlier the convener of the Conference and the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, said that the conference was aimed at consolidating on the existing cordial relations between the Executive and the Legislative arms of government, adding that it represents a “high water mark in Nigeria’s search for good governance.”
The two-day conference would have presentations from Ms. Baleka Mbete, former Speaker, National Assembly of South Africa and Chairperson of African National Conference, South Africa and other top resource persons.
The event which was witnessed by former Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas and Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State also had in attendance past and present members of the National Assembly and Members of the Federal Executive Council.
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