Nigeria’s House of Representatives is set to establish a world-class legislative library that will be a reference point internationally, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said.
He says it is disturbing that Nigeria as a giant of Africa, could not boast of a legislative library of international standard, hence the resolve of the 9th House to establish one.
As part of the move, the Speaker said the House created the Committee on Legislative Library and Research, chaired by Mr. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi from Nasarawa State.
Gbajabiamila disclosed this when he hosted the Charge d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Nigeria, Kathleen Fitzgibbon, with members of her team in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Speaker, who said the House would need the inputs of the US Embassy in achieving its legislative agenda which would be launched soon, noted that the House would keep its doors open for suggestions.
“One of our priorities is to establish an international standard legislative library,” he said, while seeking the support and partnership of the US Government for the House to realise its goals in the next four years.
The Speaker also disclosed that he would meet with the Speaker of the US Congress, Nancy Pelosi, for a more robust relationship between the two parliaments, saying, “America is a partner, and we intend to keep you as a partner.”
Gbajabiamila thanked the US government for investing the sum of $1 billion to the Nigerian economy annually.
Speaking earlier, the US Charge d’Affaires, Fitzgibbon, said the US Government has been a good partner to Nigeria over the years, investing $1billion in the country yearly to help in the areas of health, education, and other sectors.
She said arrangements had been concluded for 10 clerks of different committees of the National Assembly to visit Washington for a study in their fields, a development that aimed at boosting the relationship between the two parliaments.
She assured that the US would continue to maintain a good relationship with Nigeria for mutual benefits.
