The Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislature of Nigeria Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman has identified research as panacea to effective efforts and responses to pandemics.
He was speaking during the presentation of research work on the Legislative Efforts and Responses During the Covid-19 Pandemic organized by Young Parliamentarians Forum of the National Assembly which took place at House of Representatives Conference Hall 028, Abuja, today.
The Chairman who commends the Forum for conducting the research and organizing the public presentation, said that he so much cherish research in all human endeavours because it contributes immensely to humanity’s collective efforts to find solution to all problems.
“This research will definitely help the stakeholders and policy makers especially we in the legislative arm in providing evident-based facts about covid-19 pandemic and provide a roadmap for us to make laws and resolutions in curbing the disease and mitigating the hardship and difficulties caused by it.
“Whenever our decisions, activities and legislative businesses are research-based, errors will be eliminated, holistic approaches to solving problems will be designed and positive results will always come.” He explained.
The Chairman added that the legislative arm at both the State and National levels has done remarkably well in responding to the pandemic since its emergence last year.
According to him, State Assemblies across the country responded to the disease swiftly by directing all honourable members and staff to get tested and ensuring strict compliance of NCDC’s covid-19 safety protocols in all their activities and engagements.
He added that the state assemblies also promptly approved the State Governments executive Bills on covid-19 as well, covid-19 revised budgets for both the state and the local governments, relief packages to constituents to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, financial donations and interventions and massive enlightenment campaign on safety protocols and measures against the disease embarked upon by the lawmakers in all constituencies.
Rt. Hon. Abubakar Suleiman further explained that: “I believe without these efforts and measures taken by us in the legislative arm, the feat this country so far achieved in fighting the pandemic wouldn’t have been realistic.
“We can still do more and this research work will be a guiding document for us, so that we can plan how to put more efforts in ending this disease and of course it will help us in designing a framework to prepare and respond to any pandemic that may come in the future.”
He assured the Forum that the Conference of Speakers will study the research with a view to implementing the recommendations made.
