News Investigators/ The Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Usman Bello Kumo, has congratulated the Speaker, Tajudeen Abass on his 61st, even as he urged Nigerians to continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda to build a more prosperous and virile nation.
Rep. Kumo commended Rt. Hon. Abass for providing leadership for the 10th session of the House of Representatives, noting that the parliament had prioritised issues of national interest in performing its legislative duties in the past 3-years.
The Chief Whip, in a statement Thursday in Abuja said, there was no question that the reforms embarked upon under Tinubu led All Progressive Congress (APC) government came with some pain, but there is no denying the fact that it has brought visible gains as evident in stability of our national currency, buoyed foreign reserve and a forward looking economic prosperity.
“In his first two years, President Tinubu added $67 billion to our GDP, it has since increased. Expectedly, fuel price went up but was on its way down before the Iran-Israel/US conflict. We must not lose sight of the fact that Nigeria is the largest exporter of petroleum products in West Africa, fixing the FX regime and stabilising the Naira thereby making the Nigerian Stock Exchange the most profitable in recent time, according to Bloomberg, ending ASUU strikes, and making Nigeria the top destination for Foreign Direct Investment in Africa.
“This government came in at a time when the country could barely meet its financial needs. To pay a salary at both federal and state level was almost impossible, our economy had gone comatose, so in all sincerity, l will say it takes courage to embark on reforms that we were sure could rob on our popularity,” Kumo said.
“So, what the parliament did was to show greater understanding by cooperating with the president, ensuring quick passage of legislation and resolutions of urgent national interest.
“The Speaker also ensures that legislative oversight is done in a way that guarantees government accountability. I therefore would like to use this occasion of his birthday to congratulate him for his commitment to nation building,” Kumo stated.