President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the National Assembly to speedily pass five Executive bills in other to aide his anti-corruption crusade.
Buhari while making the appeal at a dinner he organised in honour of the National Assembly members at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday night, listed the bills to include, the Money Laundry and Prevention Bill of 2016, Bills for Acts for domestication of agreements for avoidance of double taxation between Nigeria, South Korea, Spain and Sweden.
Others include, Mutual legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, 2016 the Federal Capital Territory Appropriation Bill, 2016 and Statutory Budget of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, 2016.
The President, however, promised that his administration would continue to respect the principle of separation of power as enshrined in the constitution.
He said, “This is first, to mark the 2016 Democracy Day and further to appreciate the National Assembly leadership, membership and management for the great work they have done in considering and approving as thought fit several bills and measures submitted by the executive and those bills originated by the legislature which have enabled the government function according to law.
“Let me again appreciate the work of the National Assembly for the painstaking and consensual work they did with the Executive to deliver the 2016 Appropriation Act.
“It is on record that this is one rare occasion where the Appropriation Act was assented to with the schedule i.e the details. This is a good start in our journey of change.
“I seize this opportunity to please draw attention to the under listed bills which have been submitted to the National Assembly and appeal for accelerated consideration and passage.
“I am conscious that on June 9, 2016, the National Assembly will complete one legislative year.
“May I appeal to you to consider and pass these submitted bills, particularly the statutory budget of the FCT, the NDDC Budget and the budget of statutory corporations.
“These bodies cannot execute their statutory mandate nor incur expenditure for the year unless their budgets are approved by the National Assembly.
“I hereby re-state the commitment of this administration to observe the principles of separation of powers which define and delineate 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 by it is in strict accord with its constitutionally limited powers.
“I urge you as legislators and the legislature to take out time and communicate with your constituents and other Nigerians the policies of the government which are based on laws approved by the National Assembly.”
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