The Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has appreciated the settlement reached by the Federal authorities and the Organized Labour which led to the suspension of the deliberate industrial strike motion, saying it saved the nation from going into financial shocks.
Kalu’s appreciation was contained in his opening remarks on the House plenary session which he presided including that dialogue and reasoning prevailed.
The Deputy Speaker additionally recommended the federal authorities for accepting to vote N100 billion for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for mass transit and 55,000 kits to kick begin auto fuel conversion programme amongst different points.
Kalu who additionally felicitated Nigerians on 63rd Independence anniversary celebrations, as effectively the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen on his 58th birthday, additionally revealed the readiness of the legislature to synergize with the chief in direction of optimizing the nation’s oil manufacturing quota of 1.8 million barrels per day.
He mentioned: “I wish to felicitate with the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Federal Government on the agreement to call off the strike. It shows that we have come to the age of reason, where dialogue and comprise work for our collective prosperity.
“I wish to commend major stakeholders who played major roles to ensure that this was achieved. It’s for our collective good. It’s the determination to find common ground for the interest of our economy and our people.
“Our economy cannot afford to take further shocks and if Labour had gone on with this strike, it would’ve given us a great shock as a nation.
“The Federal Government’s acceptance to vote N100 billion for CNG buses for mass transit and 55,000 kits to kick start auto gas conversion programme and other efforts, is the way to go and the conversation we should be encouraging in this House, as members of parliament, although we are three arms of government, we are one government.
“It signifies the President’s willingness to engage in productive sector of the economy.
“That actually, is the sustainable palliative we are talking about. It is also noteworthy that the third quarter macroeconomic reports show that our oil production has moved from 1.2m barrels to over 1.415 barrels per day while this gives hopes, we must all be conscious that more needs to be done.
“The Executive and the Legislature must work in synergy to optimize our oil production quota of 1.8 million barrels per day.
“If we do that, probably some of the issues we have faced in this country will be reduced. So, the conversation of the parliament should be revolving around some of these issues going forward, because we are supposed to be a solution hub.
“I wish to felicitate with Nigerians for our ability to celebrate the 63rd independence anniversary, as well as the Eid Maulud. This is the first time we are meeting the celebrations.
“Another significant thing that happened this period was the birthday of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
“Let’s rise in honour of our past heroes who fought for our independence, for the Nigeria that we believe in, the unity of Nigeria, the peace and progress we desire. We stand for the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria as a parliament, so help us God”.
