Lawan seeks better collaboration between Senate, Korea parliaments

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Sunday received in audience a special envoy of the President of Republic of Korea and discussed ways to enhance the relationship between Nigerian and Korean Parliaments.

Lawan told the Korean delegation, led by Mr Kab Yoon Jeong, that Nigerian and Korean Parliaments should work together and exchange visits with a view to creating a better relationship.

“The next Assembly which will be inaugurated on the 13th of June will look into working for a Nigeria’s National AssemblyKorean Parliament relationship so that we have a joint committee that will be involved in exchange of visits between the parliaments and that will create better relationship not only with the countries as it is, which is largely at the moment, concentrated on the executive side of government but also to have the parliaments of Korea and Nigeria exchange visits and working together to enhance the relationship between our two countries,” Lawan said.

The delegation arrived in Abuja ahead of the Monday inauguration of a new President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Senate President explained to his guests why the Presidential inauguration event scheduled for Monday is a big deal to Nigeria.

“For us, it is a big deal because this is the first time that democracy in Nigeria will witness this long period of sustainability and we are very optimistic that democracy is taking a very strong root in Nigeria and we don’t expect anything that will stop this development of our democracy to a higher and broader level,” Lawan said.

The Senate President said the trade between Nigeria and Korea were growing in “leaps and bounds.”

“Many Nigerian business men visit Korea for businesses even though the balance of trade at the moment is skewed but I believe that Nigeria will also make much more impacts in the Korean businesses because we have so many things that the Koreans will also like to buy from Nigeria.

“We take Korea as one of our major trading partner and I believe that it is because our business men and women find it very encouraging. That is why they can go to Korea and do a lot of businesses.

“Ours is not only about businesses in Korea. We also have over 300 students in Korea. Some of the students are on your scholarship.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the Korean Government for extending such support to our students. Even those who are not on scholarship found the environment convenient to undertake their various studies.”

Lawan assured the delegation that Nigeria would take a leading role in the AfricaKorea summit being planned for next year.

“Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and therefore when there will be Africa-Korea Summit, Nigeria will lead the other African countries and I want to assure you that we are going to participate fully in that Africa-Korea summit,” he said. Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr Jeong made a case for closer cooperation between Nigeria and Korea and also invited the leadership of the Nigerian Parliament to the 2024 Africa-Korea Summit being planned by President Yoon Suk Yeol administration of Republic of Korea.

Senate congratulates Tinubu, urges focus on the tasks ahead today’s inauguration

By Musa Baba Adamu

The 9th Senate has congratulated the President - elect, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shetima for scaling the hurdles of the general elections and now destined to be sworn as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Senate also congratulated all Nigerians who participated in the electioneering process, whether as voters, policy makers, umpires, politicians, commentators, or legislators.

In a statement by its spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, the Senate said that while it rejoiced with Tinubu and Shettima, it is not oblivious of the arduous tasks of the State before the incoming administration.

“We are rejoicing with your Excellency and we pray it will be your Excellency that God will use to move this nation to where it should be among the comity of nations and take the nation to greater heights in all spheres.

“Nigerians will hold your Excellency responsible to your promises of food security, power generation and supply, massive job creation and youth employment, among the myriads of needs confronting our nation.

“Nigerians will not be bothered about ethnicity, religiosity, or any other sentimental colouration, of any kind, if they see genuine hope of transformation.

“Nigerians are hungry and crying, as never before for hope, and we pray, they may see hope in your slogan : Renewed hope.”

The statement continued “while commending you to the hands of the Almighty God, we also say you should take heed in your appointments so that you can put in place those who will key into your set out agenda and work for Nigerians”.

Appointments: The senators counselled must be based on justice, merit, competence, and balancing by all means.

The Senate who also congratulated all elected representatives of the people at all levels be it as Governors, Senators, Representatives at national or at State levels, encouraged them to cooperate with the President -elect, and play their parts well.

The Senate particularly congratulates the incoming Vice President, Senator Kashim

Shettima, and wife of the incoming President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who are both active contributors to the success of the 9th Senate.

Nigerians will not now quickly forget the predictable budget circle, the Deep off-shore and inland basin production sharing contracts, the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the Police Act, Petroleum Industry Act, Electoral Act and 16 ammendments to the Nigerian Constitution assented to by the President among 104 other bills passed into law that emerged from the 9th Senate.

The Senate therefore urged Senators in the 10th Assembly to work hand in hand with the incoming president to make Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy.