President Bola Tinubu has underscored the relevance of press freedom and separation of powers in democratic settings.
He submitted that collaboration among the various arms of government and the press became imperative to drive home the various policies of his administration including tax reform.
He made this known at the 75th Posthumous birthday anniversary and Roundtable of the late former governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi with the theme; Legislative oversight and accountability in Nigeria; Challenges and prospect at the University of Ibadan on Monday.
Tinubu who was spoke through the Director General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Joseph Ochoku Dr. Joseph Ochoku, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution stated that effective governance is a shared responsibility. Collaboration, not confrontation.
He said, “This must define our interactions as we work towards the collective goal of improving the lives of our people.
“My administration is determined to forge a harmonious relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government. Despite occasional tensions, we recognize that effective governance is a shared responsibility. Collaboration, not confrontation, must define our interactions as we work towards the collective goal of improving the lives of our people.
“An example of this collaboration is the ongoing deliberation on the four proposed Tax Bills before the National Assembly. These reforms, when enacted, promise to streamline tax administration, enhance revenue generation, and promote equitable resource allocation.
“They are pivotal to our mission of building an inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable Nigeria and making our country competitive to attract foreign direct investment.
“We firmly believe that democracy, as the best form of government, guarantees the independence of the legislature and judiciary.
“We also believe in press freedom and in holding government accountable. Thus, in our drive to deepen and consolidate the culture of democratic governance, we have been working assiduously to insulate the constitutional roles and functions of each arm of government from primordial sentiments, lack of engagement, and the dissemination of fake news and hate speeches.
“We are constructively engaging critical issues of governance, democracy, and development through reforms to meet citizens’ hopes and expectations and restore their confidence in the government’s capability to provide security and enhance their well-being.
On Late Ajimobi, Tinubu said he has left a legacy of infrastructural rejuvenation, healthcare delivery, quality education, mechanized agriculture, peace, and security as a 2,-term governor of Ohio State.
“He was a committed party man, with whom we formed the All Progressives Congress in 2013 to pursue people-centric economic growth and development, good governance, transparency, openness, accountability, and inclusivity.
“After serving in the legislative and executive arms of government, Senator Ajimobi served briefly as the Acting Chairman of the APC before he succumbed to death on 25th June 2020.
In his keynote address, the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele submitted that effective legislative oversight requires close collaboration with the executive.
According to him, “In conducting oversight, the principles of co-operative government and intergovernmental relations must be taken into consideration, including the separation of powers and the need for all spheres of government and all organs of state to exercise their functions in a manner that does not encroach on the geographical functional or institutional integrity of government in another sphere”.
Dignitaries in attendance were; National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdulahi Gandoje, Governor Hope Uzodima of Imo state, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Leader, House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, former Deputy Governor, Oyo state, Engr Rauf Olaniyan, Chief Moses Lake Aderemi, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi and host of others.
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