The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, following his remarkable election to the Executive Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Senator Akpabio, who led the Nigerian delegation at the 147th IPU General Assembly held in Luanda, Angola, achieved a significant milestone by securing a seat on the Executive Committee. This remarkable achievement marks the first time Nigeria has been represented in the Executive Committee of the IPU in 59 years, with the last representation dating back to 1964.
Speaker Abbas described Senator Akpabio’s election as a historic breakthrough, emphasizing that this achievement not only reflects the Senate President’s excellence but also underscores the collective success of the entire 10th National Assembly and Nigeria as a nation.
The Speaker underlined that, despite Nigeria’s relatively recent return to democracy in 1999, the National Assembly has been instrumental in elevating the country’s standing on the global stage.
Recalling Nigeria’s influential role in the formation of the Conference of Speakers of African Parliaments (CoSAP), led by the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker Abbas highlighted the introduction of legislative diplomacy by the Nigerian Parliament. This innovative approach has been effectively employed to address inter-country disputes, demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to fostering peace and stability in the region.
Speaker Abbas expressed his strong belief in Senator Akpabio’s ability to leverage his extensive experience in both the Executive and Legislative branches of the Nigerian Government to make substantial contributions to the leadership of the IPU.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union, which boasts a membership of 179 nations, is a prestigious global organization established in 1889. It is dedicated to the promotion of peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue, serving as a vital platform for parliamentary cooperation and the advancement of peace, democracy, and sustainable development worldwide.
