Speaker Abbas Wants Better Coordination With UN, Others

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed the readiness of the 10th House to collaborate with the United Nations towards addressing the security challenges and the inherent socio-economic impacts in Nigeria.

Speaker Abbas, however, called for better coordination and harmonisation of foreign bodies’ interventions to maximise the benefits of limited resources.

The speaker, while receiving the resident coordinator of the United Nations (UN)in Nigeria, Mr Mohammed Fall, and his team in Abuja on Tuesday, decried that resources have been wasted in the past due to duplication of programmes and projects by the federal, state, and local governments as well as foreign donors.

In his statement as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Abbas called for better synergy between the federal government subnationals and the National Assembly.

He disclosed that the projects from the National Assembly to the sub-nationals and the local government areas run into billions of naira.

Abbas said, “I also want to acknowledge all the issues you have mentioned concerning the problems bedevilling our dear country, particularly the North, with which you are so familiar.

“It is true; the centre of gravity regarding insecurity and other challenges is shifting from the North-East to the North-West. We are very appreciative that you have already identified that early.”

The Speaker also urged the UN and its agencies to ensure inclusivity and stakeholders’ engagement in their projects, adding that local communities and traditional rulers should be involved. He further called for regular regional consultative forums.

While congratulating Fall on his latest appointment, the Speaker said: “Nigeria is a familiar territory to you. You have been here before. You know the geography of the country. And to some great extent, you are also familiar with the issues and challenges of the country.”

He added: “You are from West Africa; most of the problems in Nigeria are similar to those in other (West African) countries. So, we believe that your appointment is deliberate. We believe in your capacity and the experience you have already acquired.

“I want to inform you that we in the House are pleased with and elated by your appointment. We wish to collaborate with you and all the agencies under the United Nations.”

Earlier, Fall said the meeting with the Speaker was “indeed long overdue,” adding that the intention was based on “a very complex assignment that I am undertaking.”

The UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria also noted that while he is from Senegal, the African sub-region “looks up to Nigeria in the region.”

He said in part: “I will need the support of the Hon. Speaker. I will need your guidance and your wisdom. For us in the UN, if we make it in Nigeria, we will make it in the rest of the sub-region.

“One of the indicators that we are monitoring as the UN is the food prices,” saying, “I need your support, having come from Kenya and seeing economic deterioration.”