Deputy President of the Senate Ovie Omo-Agege urged Nigerians to use the New Year to renew their commitment to nation building.
The Delta Central lawmaker said though the outgone year 2021 was challenging, complicated by the surge of Coronavirus, he was optimistic that the new year 2022 would be a year of recovery.
He called on Nigerians to continue to adhere strictly to COVID-19 safety guidelines in order to be insulated from the pandemic.
On the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which President Muhammadu Buhari vetoed, the Deputy President of the Senate assured Nigerians that legislators would consult widely with their constituents before the National Assembly resumes on January 18, 2022.
He said: “Stakeholders agree that the 2010 Electoral Act is no longer in tune with current realities, hence the need for new legal framework for our elections.
“Consultations with our constituents will start immediately after the New Year festivities to feel their pulse on the President’s decision to decline assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and chart a way forward.
“We assure Nigerians that within the first week of resumption, we will come up with a workable solution to resolve the impasse.
“We can’t throw away the baby with the bath water. Without a doubt, the amended bill has so many innovations that would improve our electoral fortunes in line with best democratic practices globally.”
Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives told the Federal Government to stop what it called reckless accumulation of debts, and borrowing spree which have placed a huge economic burden on the nation.
The Caucus in a statement by its leader, Ndudi Elumelu, said government should take urgent steps in the New Year to tackle poverty, unemployment, high costs and infrastructural retrogression by growing the productive sector and allowing hard working and creative Nigerians, especially the youths to meaningfully engage.
The Minority Caucus also said the government should end its lip service and adopt proactive measures to decisively tackle escalating acts of terrorism in the country, saying “our citizens have suffered a lot and the New Year should usher in a new lease of life”.
