COVID-19 Hindered 9th NASS Performance – Gbajabiamila

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday said the COVID-19 pandemic hindered performance of the 9th National Assembly despite its numerous achievements.

Gbajabiamila, who highlighted some of the achievements recorded, said the 9th House has done a lot which was a clear departure from what obtained in the past.

He said, “The last four years have been a period of consequential interventions and essential reforms that lay the foundation for future growth and prosperity. We must acknowledge this and draw lessons to guide us in the future.”

Gbajabiamila spoke when he delivered a paper titled ‘Delivering on our contract with Nigerians: Implementing the Legislative Agenda of the 9th House of Representatives – Progress, Challenges and the Way Forward’ at the second edition of the Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture Series organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja yesterday.

He said the 9th House has been an unusually productive parliament despite the limitations imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have taken legislative action to address long standing challenges of governance and economics in our country. We have passed landmark legislation to fix our oil and gas industry, reform the police and reorganise the corporate administration system in our country.

“We have considered and passed meaningful legislation impacting all areas of our national life. Some of these bills are the Police Service Commission Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill, and the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act (Amendment) Bill, amongst others.