Outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Laing has commended efforts of the House of Representatives on the passage of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Ms Laing stated this during a visit to the speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila. She also acknowledged the role played by the speaker towards encouraging women in parliament.
While acknowledging that she had wonderful experience working with the leadership of the House of Representatives led by Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, she applauded the working relationship on the Electoral Act.
“I’ve been here, as you mentioned, since 2018. In fact, I arrived just before the last election. So, it’ll be nearly four and a half years. By the time I finish, I always wanted to do two electoral cycles. And it’s proven to be fascinating to do.
“So, I’ve had some highs, many highs, a few lows, but overall, it’s been an absolutely wonderful experience. And it’s a very strong foundation and it’s been a really good working relationship with Mr. Speaker and his team.
“We’ve worked together on a number of very important electoral bills, his own initiative, the center’s foundation he’s set up to support young legislators and I was very privileged to support the launching of that so it’s been a great pleasure working with him,” she said.
In his response, Gbajabiamila acknowledged that he enjoyed a robust working relationship with the envoy.
“I’ve enjoyed a great working relationship with you, you and I, over time had robust engagements and interaction both formal and informal. You’ve been very supportive… It’s been a very enriching time for me.
“Your time here is your time, sometimes I think your passion is so evident in many of our discussions, and my hope and my prayer are that whoever succeeds you will carry on in that same trajectory in building and fostering an even more sustainable relationship between our two countries. I really do thank you very much.
“We will miss you. Nigeria will miss you; the Parliament will miss you and your various engagements. I pray that whatever you do, various engagements. I pray that whatever you do moving forward, I wish you God’s speed and I wish you well, I thank you once again very profusely for the interest that you have showed the work we do here in Parliament.
“Even in my own work, and my own interventions, like you rightly said, last week was the mentorship programme, which I launched, in which you played a very critical role. I will be keeping you updated,” Gbajabiamila stated.
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