The speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, says President Bola Tinubu’s administration needs to prioritize political stability to achieve desired development in the country.
Abbas gave a speech on Thursday during a seminar commemorating 2023 Democracy Day that was put on by the National Institute of Democratic and Legislative Studies (NILDS).
Abbas, who was represented by his deputy Benjamin Kalu, claimed that international investors are drawn to countries with stable political systems.
“We must prioritize political stability in the new administration to achieve the desired development and attract sustainable foreign investments,” he said.
“Democracy provides the liberal environment necessary for innovation, creativity, and growth. Undeniably, is the best means to ensure sustainable development that meets the needs and interests of our people.”
Also speaking, Abubakar Sulaiman, director-general of NILDS, said that the lecture was organized to assess the nation’s democratic governance.
“From the angle of governance and representation, the need for inclusion in the nation’s leadership spectrum is one of the most discussed issues,” he said.
“Inclusion of excluded groups such as persons with disabilities, women, young people, and Nigerians in the diaspora in the nation’s democratic process, including elections are other aspects of inclusion discourse warranting scholarly engagement.
“These challenges place a lot of expectations on the new administration and thus require informed perspectives to enhance governance outcomes at the federal, state, and local government levels.”
He said there is a need to address security challenges facing the nation as “they pose a threat to our democracy”.
“Therefore, the new government should do something urgently to address the menace of insecurity bedeviling our country and undermining our collective resolve. It is in connection to the above that continuous appraisal of our democratic journey in fora such as this is vital to take stock and draw lessons for the progress of our country, Nigeria,” he added.
