GOODWILL MESSAGE BY

THE CHIEF SERVANT, DR. MU’AZU BABANGIDA ALIYU, OON (TALBAN MINNA), ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE NIGER STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, AT THE ASSEMBLY COMPLEX; ON MONDAY, 6TH JUNE, 2011.

PROTOCOL;

THEME: TIME TO RESTORE RESPECT AND PEOPLES’ CONFIDENCE AND DEVELOP NIGER STATE TO REALISE VISION 3:2020.

2. Honourable members; I join Nigerlites and your numerous well wishers in congratulating you on this historic occasion of the inauguration of the seventh legislature of the Niger State House of Assembly.

3. We must however, first give immense gratitude to Allah (SWT) for making it possible for all of us to be part of this occasion. Today’s event is by every estimation a historic one and indeed a poignant affirmation of what democracy truly and really means; that governments are created by the people, empowered by the people, derive their just powers from the consent of the people, and must forever remain subservient to the will of the people. We are, therefore, servants of the people.  

4. Today’s event therefore marks a significant turning point in our march towards democratic development in Niger State, as the inauguration of the legislature represents the consolidation of one of the pivotal points of a democratic government; for the legislature, alongside the executive and the judiciary, is the institution that has the onerous responsibility of restoring the peoples’ confidence in democracy, by the quality of its legislation, which must always be aimed at protecting and promoting the rights and priviledges as well as the aspirations of majority of the people.

5. While welcoming you on board this democratic voyage, permit me to remind us that the task of democratic governance is a collective responsibility of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, each saddled with distinct but mutually reinforcing constitutional responsibilities. The need for mutual understanding and respect therefore becomes highly sacrosanct, to enable us provide good governance for the consolidation of the transformation of Niger State. The Executive Arm initiates and executes policies after the legislature has legislated (laws and oversight functions) and the judiciary adjudicates, interprets and arbitrates. 

6. Let me, however, reiterate that the greatest challenge before us today is ensuring that the peoples’ confidence in democracy, good governance and public service is not eroded. We must do everything possible to restore respect for ourselves and hope for the people. To achieve this, we must prove at all times, by our actions, our deeds, our utterances and indeed by our behavior and general conduct that we are here to serve the people, and that we cannot be more powerful or more important than the people who freely gave us the mandate to be here. Such is the spirit of servant leadership, which has been the guiding principle of the executive arm which I have had the priviledge, by the special grace of Allah (SWT) to head in the last four years.

7. I am indeed delighted to note that through our avowed commitment to the principles of servant leadership, we have been able to impact positively on the lives of Nigerlites in the areas of Education, Agriculture, Health, Infrastructural development, Housing, Graduate employment, and rural development, among others. As we open a new chapter in the democratic history of Niger State today, therefore, I call on all members of this honourable House to commit ourselves to the service of Nigerlites respectfully, selflessly and diligently to take Niger state to an unprecedented level of development consistent with our Vision 3:2020.

8. Undoubtedly, we are bound by a common goal and aspiration – the progress and prosperity of Niger State. We must, however realize that progress cannot be achieved without respect for law and order in society, which even makes it more challenging for the three arms of government to work together in harmony to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. On our part as the Executive, we pledge to carry both the Legislature and the Judiciary along in the discharge of our constitutional responsibilities – faithfully executing government’s policies and programmes, while providing the enabling environment for the Legislature to make good laws and for the Judiciary to adjudicate without fear or favour, for a just and egalitarian society to prevail. We will encourage all honourable members to monitor all projects being executed in their constituencies to ensure that their constituents reap maximum benefits.  It is very important that you keep in touch with your constituents regularly and intimately to listen to them, to discuss with them and to explain to them how the process works and what the government is doing for them and what the government wants them to do, so that we can realize our vision of 3:2020 for the peace, security, development and progress of all Nigerlites.   

9. Honourable members, the assignment before us is by no means an easy one, for we are being inaugurated at the time that the peoples’ expectations are exceedingly high, and when people are no longer ready to settle for less, as far as good governance is concerned. I therefore urge you not to allow yourselves to be intimidated or cowed by the enormity of the challenges you may face or the burden of your legislative responsibilities. I believe that with courage, determination and commitment we shall succeed in finding legitimate ways of balancing whatever circumstances we find ourselves and ensuring that we serve the people transparently and accountably to their admiration and to the reward of Allah (SWT).

10. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen; permit me at this juncture to express my profound gratitude to all members of the sixth legislature for the maturity, patriotism and high level of commitment with which they handled their legislative duties, which accounted for the passage of a record 45 high impact bills in the last four years. I must salute them for their courage and for understanding the deeper meaning of dissent and ‘disagreeing to agree’, which are both healthy democratic tenets. I am indeed personally grateful to all those who contributed to the cordial relationship which made it possible for us to move Niger state forward from where we met it in 2007.  

11. We do hope that the seventh legislature will learn from the outgoing legislature and join us in consolidating the enormous gains of the last four years, so that we can work together, in partnership towards laying the foundation for a more peaceful, more secure, more prosperous and a more hopeful Niger State. We pledge our maximum cooperation to the seventh legislature, to ensure that our mutual interests are protected and promoted in the overall interest of the good people of Niger State. We would find better ways of handling the partnership to ensure that all we do are legitimate and legal within our constitutional roles. I urge you to work in harmony without discrimination and recrimination. We are all for the development and progress of Niger State in particular and Nigeria in general.

12. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, May I, at this juncture, perform the constitutional role that is bestowed on me by section 105(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which requires me to make a proclamation for the holding of the first session of the seventh legislature of the Niger State House of Assembly. I therefore hereby wish to make this proclamation this day, Monday, the 6^th of June, 2011 and wish you successful deliberations. May Allah (SWT) continue to increase us in guidance and wisdom; amen.