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The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa'ad Abubakar has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole for bringing a fresh initiative into the affairs of the House of Representatives.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa'ad Abubakar has commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole for bringing a fresh initiative into the affairs of the House of Representatives.
The Sultan also commended the decision by the Speaker to ensure that the inputs of all stakeholders are included in the appropriation bill.
The Sultan, who received the Speaker in his palace in Sokoto said the idea of visiting communities across the country to seek their input on the 2008 budget proposal was an unprecedented gesture that would restore the confidence of the electorate on their representatives.
The Sultan described the Speaker as a dynamic and vibrant legislator who has all it takes to uphold the integrity of the House., adding that 'judging by what we have been observing since after the crisis that engulfed the House, I can make bold that the new leadership has now put the House on the right track and I must commend you for that."
Sultan Abubakar, who is also the President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, enjoined the Speaker to live with absolute fear of God, even as he assured him of continued support and prayers.
He said that what leaders needed most is prayers and not accolades from the people.
While recollecting the events of the recent past that led to the emergence of Hon Bankole as Speaker, the Sultan commended the members for observing extant House rules in resolving the impasse and lauded President Umaru Yar'Adua for his neutrality in throughout the crisis.
Earlier, Hon. Bankole told the monarch that the new leadership of the house has vowed never to work in isolation hence there resolve to canvass the input of the grassroots with a view to coming up with a realistic and people oriented budget.
According to the Speaker ' We will not only engage ministries and parastatals in Abuja, but we will come down to the states to ask questions because we want to work together to create a synergy between the states and the federal government, so that together we can decide how our future can be designed."
The speaker further stated: 'We are operating a medium-term expenditure profile, which, means that we are doing budget for the next three to five years in such a way that when we roll over two to three times, we will get to 2020 and achieve our desired goal of being part of the 20 most industrialized nations of the world."
He asked for the support of the royal father and the traditional institution to ensure that the House succeeds in its task of redefining legislative work in Nigeria.
Before leaving Sokoto, the Speaker also visited the home of the Second Republic President, and elderstatesman, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, where he reiterated the resolve of the House under his leadership to strengthen its oversight mechanism to be able to track monies appropriated to ministries and parastatals.