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Tag: Femi Gbajabiamila

Revenue: Gbajabiamila Assures RMAFC of House’s Support for Efficient Mobilisation, Allocation
…Speaker asks agency to explain salary, allowances of legislators to public
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has assured the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) of the support of the legislature in strengthening the delivery of its core mandate of mobilising revenue for the government.
Gbajabiamila stated that since no country could go far in terms of development without revenue, it was the priority of the House to ensure that RMAFC performed its duties optimally.
Gbajabiamila, who spoke on Thursday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the commission at the National Assembly, cited the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution and other relevant laws to not only strengthen RMAFC but also expand the scope of revenue available to the three tiers of government as an example.
The delegation was led by the chairman of the commission, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Shehu.
“It is revenue that takes a country from point to point; for any country that wants to grow, revenue is key to nation-building.
“That is why RMAFC is an essential component of the government in this country,” Gbajabiamila stated.
The Speaker said the National Assembly made a lot of amendments in the ongoing constitution review to improve the work of the RMAFC, including new allocations to tiers of government.
However, he noted that much of the new changes depended on how soon the 36 states voted on the amendments now pending before them.
Gbajabiamila told the visitors that everyone, including President Muhammadu Buhari, was waiting for the states to turn in their report on the amendments before any further actions could be taken by the government.
He said, “There are issues about the exclusive and concurrent lists, which you mentioned; how we are going to allocate revenue and all that.
“Well, it’s before the states and we are waiting for them. We will put pressure on them and ensure we achieve it. Mr President has said that it is the only thing he is waiting for.”
Gbajabiamila, who advised RMAFC to build a central monitoring platform to monitor revenue movements in all government revenue-generating agencies, asked the commission to submit a detailed proposal on its needs to enable the House to work on it speedily.
The Speaker also seized the opportunity of the visit to call on RMAFC to consider enlightening Nigerians on the distinction between the salary and allowances of legislators.
He observed that the controversy over the pay of lawmakers and making it a public debate all the time was caused by the lumping of the salaries and allowances of lawmakers together.
According to Gbajabiamila, allowances are tied to sundry duties or work of the office of a lawmaker like maintaining a constituency office, while the salary is the actual pay he earns as a legislator.
“You need to explain to the public the difference between salary and allowances. A lot of people lump them together and call them our take-home package. Salary is different and allowances are meant for many other issues.
“This explanation should be part of what you are working on right now regarding the judiciary and political office holders”, he added.
Speaking earlier, Shehu appealed to the Speaker to do all within his good office to ensure that a new constitution and other legislation that could help RMAFC perform better were concluded timely.
He also appealed for more funding for the commission through alternative sources outside the statutory allocation by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Shehu, who complained that big revenue agencies barely tolerated the commission by providing limited information on their revenue performance, urged the National Assembly to further empower RMAFC through the review of its laws, among other legislative interventions.
October 21, 2022
Gbajabiamila Decries Health Sector Brain Drain
…urges urgent action to halt trend
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed sadness over the brain drain phenomenon that has hit the medical sector in the country.
Gbajabiamila said a situation whereby over 2,000 resident doctors had left the shores of the country, with about 800 leaving in the last eight months, bringing the average to about a hundred medical doctors leaving the country monthly in search of better working conditions, was unacceptable.
He, however, said the time had come for the government to holistically address the issues responsible for the negative trend.
Speaking during a courtesy call to his office on Thursday by the executives of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), led by the President, Dr. Emeka Orji, Gbajabiamila, however, cautioned that the issue of funding must be properly situated within the context of the prevailing global economic situation since Nigeria is not an island.
Responding to the figures of the resident doctors that had left Nigeria due to poor remuneration, Gbajabiamila said, “That is a very scary figure and that is not very encouraging for a country of over 200 million people to have the core of your medical team, your young ones, resident doctors, leaving in droves like that, definitely something must be wrong.”
“You have identified that to be the issue of emoluments and salaries, that’s always a very important issue. If you work, you must get paid, and you must get paid a good salary.
“It’s also important that we put those things in context in terms of everybody’s need to get paid, and that’s very important. That’s one of the reasons, if not the most important reason why you work, because we all have families to take care of. But we must put it in the Nigerian context in terms of the revenues available to the country.
“This is a worldwide phenomenon, right now everything is going down. Countries are not making as much revenue as they should.
“And I’m sure a lot of doctors that leave the shores of Nigeria in search of greener pastures, many of them will be happy, many of them will also realize it’s not so easy on the other side either.”
While commending those who decided to stay behind despite the situation, Gbajabiamila said, “What I would like to encourage you to do is to tarry a while, be a little bit more patient, and stay.”
“As long as you have our ears here as your legislature, we will always, as best as possible, come to your aid.”
“So, let’s put a stop to this brain drain as best as we can whilst we, on this side, try to make the environment a lot easier for you.”
The Speaker also assured the association that the clamour for an increase in the budgetary allocation for the health sector to meet the 2001 Abuja Declaration of 15 per cent of the annual budget allocation to health would be looked into, being a critical sector of the economy.
While cautioning stakeholders against the tradition of equating the Ministry’s budgetary allocation to the entire budget of the sector, Gbajabiamila nevertheless assured that the House would ensure that the sector was not shortchanged in the allocation of resources to it.
He added: “We’ll have a look at what percentage we have in this year’s budget for the health sector. We got the budget about a week ago, I’m still going through it, but I will zero in on health to find out what the percentage is, and how far away we are from the Abuja Declaration.
“I cannot promise that here. If we have fallen short, we will augment it, I cannot make that promise because it depends on a whole host of other things, but we will try our best to at least, come close. We will try our best to look at it objectively within the context of the revenue that is available to the country.
“There are so many things going on right now. That’s where the sacrifice comes in. Oil theft, dwindling revenue, the Ukraine war, and so many other things and everybody’s competing for the lean revenue, but we know our priority areas, education, and health, are priority areas. We’ll do everything we can to make sure that as best as we can, we come as close to the Abuja Declaration, as we can”.
The Speaker also promised to look into the other demands of the group on adequate funding of residency training, restoration of the Overseas Exchange Programme, the need to amend the Medical Registration Act, and an upward review of the salary structure for resident doctors, all within available resources.
He urged the association to furnish his office with detailed information on some of the issues, saying, “I’d like to have some information on that in writing so that when we are making a case to the government we will be able to furnish them with even more details, to know exactly what case we are trying to make.”
To emphasise the place of the health sector in the scheme of things, the Speaker said, “The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the underbelly of our health sector, so we must not be caught napping again, and whatever we need to do, we must do.”
Earlier, the President of the association, while appreciating the Speaker and the House for their successful interventions in NARD issues with the government in the past, Dr. Orji urged the Speaker to intervene in the brain drain syndrome that had hit the medical practice in the country due to poor working conditions.
He also presented to the Speaker other demands of the association on adequate funding of residency training, restoration of the Overseas Exchange Programme, the need to amend the Medical Registration Act and upward review of the salary structure for resident doctors, among others.
October 21, 2022
2023: Gbajabiamila asks Students to Participate Fully, Vote Candidates Based on Records
.NANS appreciates speaker over resolution of ASUU strike
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has asked Nigerian students to fully participate in the 2023 elections by voting for candidates based on their records.
The Speaker said the Nigerian youths should not pass up the opportunity of electing the next political leaders on their terms, which could only be achieved with their full participation in the electoral process.
Gbajabiamila spoke on Wednesday in Abuja while welcoming executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by their President, Usman Barambu, to his office at the National Assembly.
They were on a “thank you” visit to the Speaker over the resolution of the 8-month industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
While appreciating the visit, the Speaker highlighted the importance of the Nigerian youth in national development, saying, “You are a very important segment of Nigeria for national development. The role of youth in society cannot be overemphasised because you play a very critical role in what happens in this country now and in the future.
“It is important you understand that we recognise the importance of your place in national development.”
Gbajabiamila said students could not afford to be detached from the process of electing the next President as the future of the country was at stake.
He said: “Well, for me, you (students) have a lot to do between now and election day. In the next three, four months, you have a lot to do. What I mean is that you have to now begin to look at things differently, be able to look at things the way they are done in other climes, where people will look at things when it comes to politics and elections.
“What do I mean by that? We have so many candidates, not three, not four. People talk about having three frontrunners, perhaps, but as far as I’m concerned, we have 18 candidates running for the President of this country, and I don’t think you should overlook any one of them. You should not.
“What I want you to do, as is done in advanced democracies, is to look objectively, and this is what is done in other countries, people run on their records.”
The Speaker went on: “So, those are the issues that I think you need to consider. If a candidate does not have a record to run on and is talking about something else, it means that he doesn’t have a record to run on.
“The good thing is that most of the candidates, at least the frontrunners, have records. I’m not pitching for anybody here but look at their records. If you feel he deserves to be the President of Nigeria, please, do not hesitate. Vote for that person based on his record.
“Two of them have been governors for eight years, that’s the only record they have. One has been the Vice-President for eight years. So there are records, vote for records. Every candidate must run on his record.
“And I believe the way you have been equipped mentally, I have interacted with so many of you, I believe you’re savvy enough to be able to, in spite of all the noise and the smokescreen, zero in on the right person for Nigeria.
“Also pray, that’s very important. As you consider the candidates, also pray that God will guide you to make the right choice.
“I believe that it’s going to be a watershed moment in Nigeria and I believe that is exactly what is going to happen. That is the only charge I have for you today because that’s the most important thing before us in Nigeria right now.”
Earlier, the NANS President, Barambu said the visit was to show the appreciation of the Nigerian students for the efforts the Speaker put into the resolution of the ASUU crisis.
He also put before the Speaker the request of the students regarding the possibility of the authorities waiving a year of the school calendar in order to usher in a proper academic work, having lost almost three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ASUU strike.
The students also requested the intervention of the Speaker on the possibility of waiving the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service year age for graduates who might have passed the age limit as a result of the time lost due to the COVID-19 lockdown and the ASUU strike.
The students pleaded with the Speaker to help extend their appreciation to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom they said successfully intervened in the resolution of the leadership crisis within the student union body.
October 20, 2022
Foreign Airlines’ Trapped Funds: Gbajabiamila, Stakeholders meet, Seek End to Crisis
The leadership of the House of Representatives on Monday intervened in the ongoing dispute between Nigeria and foreign airlines over the controversial “trapped funds” belonging to the airlines.
After a meeting chaired by the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, in Abuja and attended by representatives of the airlines, International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON), travel agencies and other aviation industry stakeholders, some understanding was reached to find quick solutions to release the huge sums owed the airlines.
More importantly, AON, at the session, made a strong case for the protection of the interests of Nigerian airlines in foreign countries, especially the issue of reciprocity in the number of flight slots allocated to Nigerian operators in other countries, compared to the high number foreign airlines enjoy in Nigeria.
The meeting also discussed the disparity in ticket prices charged by the foreign airlines in Nigeria and other countries, with Nigerians paying higher even when the distance between Nigeria and the foreign country of destination is shorter when compared to the distance from other African countries.
The meeting, which also looked into the difficulty Nigerians face in assessing the portals of foreign airlines for flight bookings, later adjourned till Thursday, October 20 to get the input of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on how to fast-track the release of the trapped funds.
The Speaker, however, emphasised the need for all the parties involved to make a commitment to end the crisis by addressing the various issues raised by different stakeholders and restoring peace to the industry, especially with regard to international flight operations.
The meeting will reconvene on Thursday.
October 17, 2022
ASUU Strike Must Never Happen Again – Gbajabiamila
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said all hands must be on deck to ensure academic strikes in universities become a thing of the past.
The Speaker made the comment in a statement welcoming the end of an eight-month long strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, REP. FEMI GBAJABIAMILA ON THE SUSPENSION OF STRIKE ACTION BY THE ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU).
Friday, 14th October 2022
1. I am pleased by the decision by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend their ongoing strike action. This decision is the right call as it allows students at public universities in the country to resume their academic activities.
2. I thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammdu Buhari, GCFR; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha; Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu; Minister of Labour, Senator Chris Ngige; Professor Emmanuel Osodeke and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for working to resolve the issues that necessitated the strike action.
3. I also appreciate my colleagues in the House of Representatives for the decision to intervene in negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). I am confident that the House will endeavour to ensure that the Federal Government keeps its commitments to the union and universities.
4. It is regrettable that this strike action happened in the first place. It is even more unfortunate that it lasted as long as it did. We must make sure it never happens again. Our public universities should be citadels of learning and innovation, where young people discover themselves and reach for the stars. That is not now the case. Changing that requires that we admit certain harsh truths and take radical action.
5. The suspension of this strike does not mean all the issues of funding, education standard, and student and staff welfare have been resolved. Therefore, we must not rest on our oars. Instead, let this be a call to action for the government, universities, unions, and citizens to begin the critical conversation about the future of public tertiary education in the country. I assure you that this is an objective the House of Representatives will pursue with dedication and determination.
6. I wish our young people Godspeed as they return to school. I encourage them to ensure that the disruption to the academic calendar does not deter them from pursuing their ambitions and achieving their best dreams.
7. May God bless and keep you, and God bless our Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila
Speaker of the House of Representatives
October 15, 2022
ASUU Strike: End in sight as union meets with Gbajabiamila and House leadership
…Industrial action end in a matter of days
The ongoing industrial dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal government could be over in a couple of days, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila said Monday evening.
He also disclosed that the leadership of the striking lecturers is set to sign an agreement to end the dispute based on the recommendations by the House that were presented to President Mohammadu Buhari by the House Leadership.
The Speaker also revealed that having received the House recommendations on the issue, President Buhari would on Tuesday, make a pronouncement towards the final resolution of the issue.
Having assured the leadership of the striking workers at the last meeting with the House leadership and other stakeholders that they (ASUU) would be invited for feedback from the meeting with Mr. President, Gbajabiamila expressed delight that the President’s disposition to the House’s intervention was positive.
He said: “I have visited the President twice. We spoke with Mr. President. There was one of the sticking points, the issue of no work no pay, the President did ask to digest the recommendations and would have one more meeting, which we did on Friday after the budget presentation.
“That meeting was even better than the first one we had with him and Mr. President has agreed to certain things but I’m not going to talk about that now.
“He would disclose whatever it is tomorrow (Tuesday) on that one remaining issue.
“But beyond that, the other issues have been taken care of. We were able to make sure that what ASUU was asking for in terms of the Revitalization Fund, in terms of salary, there has been significant improvement.
“Revitalization has been provided for in the budget, we made sure of that. The salary structure has been looked at, and there’s been an improvement as well and we made sure of that.
“The issue of UTAS is another important issue, both ASUU and the Office of the Accountant General and the government have agreed that they would work together to resolve the peculiarities of UTAS required for the payment plan and IPPIS. They will sit down together, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education will also be part of that tripartite sit-down arrangement to include all those things that are required by ASUU in the IPPIS platform.
“So I believe we’ve covered ground, we’ve covered most of the thorny issues and what we have agreed with ASUU now is basically to put everything on paper and sign off.
“I believe if we had met yesterday and the papers had been drawn up, I’m sure ASUU would have called off the strike today.
“But we’ve only just met today.
“As I have stated, hopefully in the next couple of days, of course, once ASUU gets back to its base as well, once that is agreed, I’m very hopeful and very excited about the possibility or probability that the strike will be called off in a matter of days”.
Gbajabiamila appreciated the union leadership for allowing the House leadership to make an input towards a lasting solution to the crisis, noting that short notices for meetings as well as public holidays were not enough to stop the union leaders from honouring invitations to meetings.
In his response, ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Sodeke, who led other members of the union to the meeting, corroborated the views expressed by the Speaker over the signing of the agreement to end the strike.
He said: “My union operates bottom-up. We don’t take decisions without their consent. So we have agreed that between now and tomorrow.
“We are going to get some documentation signed so that we can take them to our members, and we will do that as quickly as possible in the interest of Nigerians and the students so that this can be resolved as soon as possible.
“From what we have seen today, I think for the first time since our actions started, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel”.
While appreciating the efforts of the Speaker and the House towards the resolution of the dispute, Osodeke, however, expressed optimism that the end of the strike is in sight.
Saying that the interest of the children who have been at home for so long is paramount, Osodeke noted that the union believed that the intervention of the House is genuine and could be trusted.
October 10, 2022
Gbajabiamila celebrates, tasks Muslims on Eid-il-Maulud
Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has enjoined Nigerian Muslims to step up their emulation of the characters and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in their relationships with God and fellow beings as they mark the birth of the Holy Prophet today.
As he celebrates this year’s Eid-il-Maulud with the Muslim faithful, Gbajabiamila in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said the exhibition of love and peace towards one another as taught by the Holy Prophet becomes imperative for building a strong and prosperous Nigeria.
Gbajabiamila said the love of and peaceful coexistence with one another as espoused by the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet would greatly ease the journey towards a destination we all craved for as Nigeria moves into the 2023 electioneering process.
Gbajabiamila also urged Nigerians to continue to pray for Nigeria and her leaders at all times, saying that whatever challenges the country is currently facing can be surmounted with prayers from a united Nigeria.
October 8, 2022
Gbajabiamila confident of Buhari’s impending resolution of ASUU Strike
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has expressed his confidence regarding the resolution of the ongoing industrial dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal government.
Gbajabiamila, who spoke on Friday at the State House after a follow-up meeting between the leadership of the House and the President, disclosed that the outcome of the meeting would soon be made known by the President.
Recall that the leadership of the House had on Tuesday presented a report containing recommendations following meetings with stakeholders in the ongoing ASUU-FG face-off to the President after which a follow-up meeting was scheduled for Thursday.
Noting that the end of the crisis might soon be in sight, Gbajabiamila said the meeting was positive as pending issues would be concluded.
He said: “We just came here for a follow-up, which was supposed to be yesterday but unfortunately the President was not around and this is a follow-up.
“We had, once again very very fruitful discussions with Mr President on the pending issues and this matter would be concluded. You will hear directly from the President, but suffice it to say that we had a very good meeting.
“The assurance is that we’ve met with the President, we’ve discussed, it was a positive meeting and even the leader here is saying it was very very positive and it shall be well”.
Not willing to let the cat out of the bag after being prodded further on the outcome of the meeting, the Speaker urged Nigerians to be patient for the President to make his pronouncements over the issues based on the new facts before him.
“I think Nigerians will hear directly from Mr President, we all look forward to it; we had a good meeting, you can read between the lines”, Gbajabiamila added.
October 8, 2022
Gbajabiamila Advocates Stricter handling of Oil Thieves
…proposes comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s oil and gas protection architecture
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has advocated stricter handling of the oil thieves considering the socio-economic damage they are foisting on Nigerians.
This is as the Speaker also handed down a warning to Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of government to adhere strictly to laws governing their accounting process as the consideration of the 2023 Budget estimates commences.
Gbajabiamila, while delivering the closing remarks during the presentation of the 2023 Money Bill at a joint sitting of the National Assembly on Friday, said the National Assembly is set to exercise the full authority of parliament to hold to account those who fail to provide the records needed to make informed decisions on the Appropriation Bill.
Highlighting the dangers oil theft portends for Nigeria, Gbajabiamila said, “Mr President, permit me to convey the disquiet in the House of Representatives arising from the reports of a massive decline in the volume of crude oil exports due primarily to theft and diversion by criminal elements.
“It is the sense of the House of Representatives that those engaged in these activities are agents of economic sabotage determined to bring our country to its knees.
“Therefore, our position is that their actions constitute treason against our country, for which they and their enablers must be held accountable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
“Nigerians no longer want to hear about crude oil theft. The question has now become what are we doing about it”.
The Speaker did not mince words on how to address the issue for the good of all, “Therefore we are urging a swift and systemic overhaul of the systems in place to protect the country’s oil and gas resources.
“Evidently, the arrangements in place are no longer adequate. As such, there is an obvious need for improvements to stop the loss of income occasioned by this ongoing sabotage.
“This is especially so at this time when the conditions of our national finances require significant borrowing to finance government operations, sustain investments in infrastructure and national security and improve the living conditions of the Nigerian people”, he noted.
In view of the prevailing socio-economic challenges facing the country and the commencement of the 2023 budget consideration, Gbajabiamila harped on the need for due diligence and strict adherence to the law by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) on accountability.
He reiterated the determination of the National Assembly to leave a befitting legacy in that regard, saying, “As we consider this 2023 Appropriation Bill, I wish to remind the heads of ministries, departments and executive agencies that the National Assembly expects thorough accounting for previous appropriations, disbursements and expenditures.
“Where such accounts are not forthcoming, we will demand them. And we will exercise the full authority of parliament to hold to account those who fail to provide the records we need to make informed decisions on the Appropriation Bill.
“This is a priority for us as we wind down and begin compiling our service records for history and as a guide to those who will continue from where we stop.
“Just as the 9th Assembly has reformed the appropriations process to ensure timely budget passage, we also intend to leave a legacy of transparency and accountability as a standard for the future”.
While he commended President Buhari for the historic visit with an assurance to give the document the importance it requires, the Speaker implore the incoming Assembly to build on the novel and enduring reforms initiated by the 9th Assembly
His words: “Today’s presentation is historic because it is the last such presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
“It is also the last time the 9th Assembly will convene to receive the President for this purpose. We are once more reminded of the finite nature of public service and the obligation to make the most of our time to deliver on our promises to the Nigerian people.
“It is often said that it is not how well you start but how strong you finish. We, intend here in the 9th assembly, to finish strong.
“I assure you the National Assembly will prioritise this bill and ensure it is passed before the end of the year, as is the practice in the 9th Assembly.
“However, we will not, in the quest for timely passage, fail to do the due diligence expected of us by the Nigerian people. The reforms to the budget process initiated in the 9th Assembly have helped streamline the appropriations process and the oversight system.
“We have set a standard for others to match or answer for”.
Gbajabiamila’s condemnation of oil theft and its corrosive effects on the country’s economy was earlier amplified by the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan who said oil thieves are enemies of the country.
Also, while presenting the Budget estates, President Buhari appreciated the working relationship with the National Assembly, which he said has resulted in the accomplishment of far-reaching goals set by the government.
“We could not have made these historical achievements without the exceptional partnership this Administration has had with the Leadership and Members of the National Assembly.
“So may I pause here, to once again, thank the Senate and the House of Representatives for your engagement, support and contribution to these successes, which history will remember us all favourably for,” the President said.
October 8, 2022
Gbajabiamila Rejoices at News of Release of Abuja-Kaduna Train Hostages
…commends FG, Military
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has expressed joy at the news of the release of the remaining 23 hostages of the ill-fated AK-9 Abuja-Kaduna train terrorist attack.
The Speaker while rejoicing at the comforting news, appreciated the efforts of the Federal government and the men of the Nigerian military for not relenting in their pursuit to secure Nigeria and Nigerians.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, Speaker Gbajabiamila also urged Nigerians to be relentless in their pursuit of peace in all their daily undertakings.
He said: “Yesterday the Federal Government of Nigeria announced the release of fellow citizens kidnapped by terrorists in the unfortunate attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train seven months ago. This is comforting news for the kidnapped victims and all Nigerians who carried them in our hearts, praying and hoping for a resolution to this unfortunate saga.
“Now begins the process of healing and recovery for the victims and their families. This will not be easy. These victims and their families deserve and will receive the support of this House of Representatives and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as they work to rebuild their bodies and spirits and restore normalcy to their lives.
“This morning I remember the ones we lost in this attack. I pray for the repose of their souls. And for the families who still mourn and miss them, I know that words will never be enough to convey your loss or reduce your grief. I pray that you will find peace and healing through the grace of God.
“Like all the other terrorist attacks of the past two decades, this attack on the Kaduna-bound train has devastated lives and caused untold suffering”.
Going forward, the Speaker said the prevailing security challenges should not dampen the spirit or discourage Nigerians from being attentive to their personal and collective security of all, saying, “Let this incident renew our commitment to end the scourge of terrorism in Nigeria.
“Too many people have suffered for too long. It’s past time to end this pain and suffering. We owe the victims, their families and all Nigerians a debt. That debt will only be fully paid when the perpetrators of this attack are identified and punished for their grievous sins against the nation.
“I join all of you, all our fellow citizens and people of conscience, in welcoming home the released victims. May God bless the memory of the dead. May His love heal the wounded, and His grace comfort the bereaved.
October 6, 2022