Shettima Canvasses Deeper Executive-Legislative Ties, Alignment Of Purpose In Nation Building

* Assures Tinubu will never take lawmakers for granted, as current presidency is anchored by N’Assembly alumni

* First Lady, Akpabio, Abbas, Uzodimma drum support for more women participation in governance

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice-President 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”.

Shettima  disclosed this in Abuja on Friday during a dinner with members of the National Assembly organised by the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the Banquet Hall of the State House.

According to him, under the Tinubu administration, the nation is currently enjoying the best working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government since the return of democratic rule.

The vice-president 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.”

On the need to deepen cooperation between the two arms of government, Shettima said it is obvious that “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, 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, saying they are all flying the alumni flag as former members of the National Assembly at the executive arm of government “without apology and without hesitation”.

“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”.

“This occasion, in every sense, reaffirms that commitment. You are not taken for granted. You have never been taken for granted. And you will never be taken for granted,” he observed.

On the sense of purpose required from the two arms of government to thrive in governance, which he said is the foundation of their partnership, 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”.

“The audacious reforms this administration has undertaken, from stabilising the

architecture to repositioning Nigeria for global competitiveness, owe their success to your 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,” he said.

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, even as he implored the lawmakers and members of the 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.

“So, let this dinner be more than a social event; let it be a testament to our collective resolve to steer Nigeria towards a horizon where peace is stable, prosperity is shared, and our democracy becomes the pride of future generations,” Shettima further stated.

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

He assured the audience that the National Assembly is determined and united in supporting the president in addressing security challenges across the country.

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

On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, thanked the First Lady for her consistent contributions to national development through various empowerment programmes for women.

Abbas also advocated 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 speaking, Chairman of the All Progressives Governors’ Forum, Governor 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.

The governor, who spoke on behalf of governors of the 36 states of the federation, called for more seats for women at all levels of government.

On her part, the host of the dinner, Mrs 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.