The newly appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Senator Wadada, has assured Nigerians that the committee has resolved its internal challenges and is now set to strengthen legislative diplomacy through renewed engagement with regional and international parliamentary bodies.
Wadada gave the assurance on Wednesday while briefing journalists after a closed-door executive session of the committee, noting that members had critically examined the issues affecting its operations and agreed on measures to address them.
He admitted that the challenges were a source of concern but expressed confidence that the committee had identified the root causes and would take necessary steps to ensure improved performance.
“I feel concerned about it, but when we got into the details of it in a closed-door meeting, we have to know where the problem or the problems are, and they will all be taken care of. The committee will be as active as it should always be,” he said.
Speaking further, the chairman outlined the committee’s direction under his leadership, stressing that it would remain focused on its statutory mandate of promoting legislative cooperation between Nigeria’s National Assembly and parliamentary institutions across the globe.
According to him, efforts would be intensified to deepen relationships with key international parliamentary organisations such as the ECOWAS Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, among others.
“The direction is basically around and about the responsibilities of the committee, which is, of course, to promote and deepen legislative relationship within Nigeria and other legislative bodies around the world, like the ECOWAS Parliament, African Parliament, I mean, IPU, and the rest of them. That’s it,” he stated.
Wadada 2adisclosed that the executive session was largely devoted to developing a strategic roadmap that would guide the committee’s activities going forward.
“There is nothing other than the fact that a new work plan has been drawn and we shall go by it. As events unfold, you will be notified of the activities that we shall be embarking upon,” he added.
He further revealed that the committee’s immediate assignment would be a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament in Nigeria, describing it as part of efforts to strengthen regional parliamentary cooperation and collaboration.
“Our first immediate plan is to have a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament here in Nigeria,” the chairman said.
The renewed commitment by the committee is seen as a move to reposition Nigeria’s parliamentary diplomacy and enhance its engagement with regional and global legislative institutions in promoting democratic governance, legislative exchange, and international cooperation.