VP Shettima Advocates Deeper Executive, Legislative Collaboration For A Working Nigeria

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has sought a deeper collaboration between the executive and legislature, saying the two arms of government must work towards aligning their purpose and unshakable resolve to build a Nigeria that works for all the citizens.

This, he noted, explains why the relationship between the two arms of government under the administration of President Bola Tinubu had “been a harmony rooted in leadership, foresight, and collective resolve.”

The Vice President stated this in Abuja on Friday during a dinner with members of the National Assembly organised by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.

According to a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, the VP said the nation is currently enjoying the best working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government since the return of democracy in 1999 under the Tinubu administration.

Shettima, however, called for a deeper collaboration between the two arms of government, stating that “the true essence of democracy manifests not only in respecting the legislature, but in appreciating the indispensable role each arm plays in the architecture of governance.

“It shines most brightly where there is alignment of purpose, where the Executive and Legislature, despite their distinct constitutional mandates, are united by an unshakable resolve to build a nation that works for all,” he added.

On the need to deepen cooperation between the two arms of government, VP Shettima said, “The entire architecture of the Presidency today is anchored by proud alumni of the National Assembly,”

He pointed out that President Tinubu; the First Lady; Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and himself are alumni of the federal legislature.

“Democracy does not flourish in the chaos of discord. It thrives where there is understanding. It survives where there is familiarity with what each arm is designed to achieve. It blossoms where each recognises the intersection between power and responsibility—between authority and accountability,” he maintained.

The Vice President noted that because the wife of the President deeply understands this, “she has demonstrated not only that she is a proud alumna of the National Assembly, but that she remains committed to protecting your interests, nurturing your dignity, and uplifting your institutional relevance.

On the sense of purpose required from the two arms of government to thrive in governance, Senator Shettima said it is anchored in President Tinubu’s “understanding that no government can move forward without the National Assembly, and this belief is shared by all of us privileged to serve around him.”

He noted that the audacious reforms of the current administration, including estabilising the macroeconomic architecture to repositioning Nigeria for global competitiveness, owe their success to the lawmakers’ cooperation and patriotism. “You have placed the nation above personal interest. You have resisted the temptation of populist shortcuts.

“You have embraced the difficult path of restructuring an economy weighed down by decades of deferred choices. And today, the early signs of macroeconomic recovery are already trickling down—gradually, steadily. This has rekindled the confidence that Nigeria is on course to becoming a prime destination for investors.”

Acknowledging however that the journey is still far from over, the Vice President said the current threats to the nation’s national security were potent enough to unite the two arms of government and implored the lawmakers and executive to rely on the wisdom of their predecessors.

“None of us is immune to the devastations of the crises we inherited. Our promise to deliver a safer nation is a solemn covenant with the Nigerian people. And to fulfill it, we must continue to work hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart.

“Now is the time for each of us to summon the wisdom of our forebears who taught us that nations are not built by the comfort of consensus alone, but by courage, sacrifice, and shared responsibility,” he appealed.

Earlier, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said while insecurity was not peculiar to Nigeria, the right measures were being taken to tackle the menace.

He assured of the National Assembly’s determination to unite in supporting the President to address security challenges across the country.

“All Nigerians are fighting extremism and we in the National Assembly are united behind this administration in fighting insecurity,” the Senate President added.

For his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, advocated for more representation for women, especially the ones that involve drawing up policies that would help tackle insecurity, saying if the current bill on women participation is passed, Nigeria will take a major step towards inclusion and justice for all.

Also, the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, solicited more support for women participation in governance, describing them as managers of the homes who would do well in key positions of government.

He called for more seats for women at all levels of government.

For her part, Senator Tinubu, who described the event as a good reunion with her former colleagues in the National Assembly, called for a sustained provision of education to all Nigerian children to enable them thrive.

The nation’s First Lady also called for the passage of the bill currently before the lawmakers seeking more opportunities for women participation in the National Assembly and other leadership positions in the country, just as she charged the 10th National Assembly to stand for women and children at all times.