KEY POINTS
- A cross section of the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas calls for better partnership with the United Nations of security in Nigeria.
- Abbas emphasizes the need for better integration of effort and resources for effective information sharing to prevent cross overs.
- UN Resident Coordinator Fall further stated about Nigeria’s role in the region.
To achieve this, Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives called for better relations between the Nigerian government and the United Nations to enable the country effectively tackle the growing insecurities. In a Tuesday’s meeting organized in Abuja with the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, Abbas said the 10th House is willing to deepen partnership with the UN especially on combating the security challenges that remain persisting in different parts of the country.
According to Abbas, prior intervention measures have been counterproductive since there are many programs being implemented which only lead to duplication of services and misallocation of funds. In his words, there is the need to more effectively and efficiently utilize limited funds through improving cooperation with foreign-based organizations and institutions as well as the Federal Government and the National Assembly.
Kind of security Requirement Coordination and Resource Management critical to Security
During his speech, Abbas was quite right to note that, given the multifaceted challenges that characterized the country’s security situation, particularly in the Northern part of the country, there could be no better way to address most of the problems than through synergy with international organizations such as the United Nations. He challenged the UN and its agencies to promote stakeholder involvement and engagement of the local people especially the traditional rulers and authorities for efficiency of the intervention projects.
“There is repeated duplication of efforts, and thus resources have been wasted in the organization in the past, something that cannot be allowed to continue,” Abbas said. He further pointed out that increased vertical cooperation between the UN and local actors and institutions such as subnational governments and grassroots leaders would produce better security outcomes.
The Speaker also offered his congratulations to Fall for his nomination which he said meant establishing a good working relation in future. He enumerated the Parliamentary Development Programme Agreement with UNDP presently ongoing as one that seeks to strengthen the capacity of the National Assembly which he said is a ‘first of its kind’ for Nigeria’s legislative house.
Speech made by UN Resident Coordinator on Nigeria as far as the role it plays in the region
Mr. Mohammed Fall, the UN Resident Coordinator also thanked the participants for the meeting while also reemphasize the place of Nigeria in the West African region. He stressed on the point that progress in dealing with these blowing challenges of Nigeria could have a contagion effect to the sub-regions of Africa. Fall understood the fact that security and economic problems are not easy in Nigeria, especially on issues UN monitors such as the increased prices of food and other essenti al commodities.
He also emphasized the need for the office to maintain a constant communication and collaboration with the authorities of Nigeria where he maintained that a good relationship between the UN and Nigerian government is pertinent for successful development and safety throughout the region.
