The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has jettisoned the idea that scrapping the existing two chamber houses and replacing it with a unicameral legislature will do the country and good, stressing that Nigerians have a lot of misconceptions about the functions of the legislature.
He stated this on Monday during the third Convocation Ceremony of the University of Benin/ National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies in Abuja.
Lawan disclosed that the Open NASS week was launched in order to improve public confidence in democratic institutions, particularly the legislature and to broaden public understanding of legislative functions and processes of the National Assembly.
He said: ““We need bicameral legislature, what we should focus on is productivity and we are on the way to prove that we are going to be productive.
“We would represent Nigerians truthfully and patriotically. The National Assembly today, we work as a family because our target is the same as we represent Nigerians who need the same solution, the atmosphere so far has been conducive and we hope we keep it this way.”
He further lamented on the number of out of school children in the country and he expressed fears pertaining the “impending strike” of ASUU, promising that he will step in to prevent another strike by the body.
Lawan said: “We have the largest number of children out of school, this is not acceptable. We do not need these children on the streets because they are recruited for negative activities that go on in the country. We have to implement the Universal Basic Education Act.
“We have to tell ourselves the truth, as leaders we should be truthful. Strikes delay our institutions from teaching our students; we should ensure that strikes are done with completely. I am going to meet with ASUU after this programme.”
He also expressed regrets about the rising debt of the country stressing that Nigeria should have enough finance for its needs and he also accused revenue generating agencies of not remitting enough revenues to the government.
He said: “Today, Nigeria is faced with the problem of availability of revenue. The time has come for National Assembly to continuously engage with revenue-generating agencies. We have to take the bull by the horn and look for our revenue wherever they are.”
The Eagle Online reports that former Senate President, Dr Ken Nnamani, The Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila who was represented by his deputy, Idris Ahmed Wase and a former INEC chairman, Prof, Attahhiru Jega, were among the dignitaries that grace the occasion.
Also, the Director –General, NILDS, Prof, Abubakar Sulaiman, said 65 gradunads were conferred with varous master degrees, comprising of 28 graduates in Legislative studies, 15 in Legislative Drafting and 22 in parliamentary Programmes.