The United Kingdom on Monday cautioned the National Assembly leadership and members against allowing their personal political ambition to affect their constitutional responsibilities to Nigerians.
The Acting British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Harriet Thompson gave the warning after a meeting with the Senate leadership led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, in Saraki’s office.
She told journalists after the meeting that her mission was to draw the attention of the National Assembly members to the statement released by the international community on Sunday concerning the 2019 general elections.
Thompson said she conveyed the UK’s message to the federal lawmakers not to abandon the legislative activities before them while pursuing their individual political ambitions towards the 2019 polls.
She said, “We met with the Senate President and the Majority Leader of the Senate in order to talk about very important legislative business that the National Assembly should undertake even before the elections especially with the start of the official campaign period at the weekend.
“We are very pleased to hear from both the leader of the majority and the Senate President that there is a great commitment to continue their important works.
“The bills that we particularly mentioned were the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, the Police Reform Bill, The Community and Non-Allied Matters Act, the Gender Equality Bill and the Disability Bill.
“These are all bills that we believe would make things better for Nigerians, for their rights, for their opportunities, and for economic development.”
The British government’s concern was coming on the heels of the inability of the federal lawmakers to form a quorum last week to carry out their legislative duties.
Posted by Juliet Ekwebelam (Punch)
