Group advocates for synergy between Executive, legislative arms

The Nigeria Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS) has urged the Reconciliation Committee set up by the Presidency to mediate on the brewing face-off between it and the National Assembly to discharge its duty with every sense of honesty.

This call was contained in a communique jointly signed by the President and National Secretary of the association, Professor Sani Umar Musa and Dr Abubakar Kawu Hassan, at the end of its National Executive Committee meeting held at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State.

The Presidency had in the wake of what was widely believed to be a looming stand-off between the executive and legislature instituted a committee headed by Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, to work out modalities towards reconciling the two arms of government.

A statement issued in Ilorin yesterday by the National Vice-President, Islamic Studies of NATAIS and Dean, Postgraduate School, University of Ilorin, Professor Badmas Olanrewaju Yusuf, however, quoted the communique as calling on Nigerians to rally round the Federal Government in its bid to rid the country of corrupt practices.

The association also urged the government to sustain its current economic diversification drive to ease the hardship confronted by Nigerians due to crisis in the nation’s economy.

The NATAIS also challenged parents, educational institutions, government and all other stakeholders to make concerted efforts in addressing moral devaluation and social vices in the society.

The communique reads, “The Reconciliation Committee formed by the Presidency to reconcile the differences between the Executive and the Legislative arms of Government should discharge its responsibility with honesty and commitment.

“The Nigerian people should understand and resolve their differences through mutual respect, dialogue and all other peaceful means.

“The Federal Government should continue in its policy of diversification of the economy to ensure continuous improvement in amelioration of the hardship in the country.

“The Federal Government should continue in its efforts to protect the lives and property of the citizens.

“The entire people of Nigeria should support the Federal Government in its efforts towards fighting corruption in the country.

“The National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) should sustain in its mandate and the Federal Government should hasten to sign its bill into law to work as other approved national examination bodies in the country.

“The parents, educational institutions, government and all other stakeholders should make concerted efforts in addressing moral devaluation and social vices in the society.

“The Federal Government should ensure full implementation and compliance with its policy on religious studies in all public and private schools in the country”.

The meeting attended by the National Executive Members and State Chairmen of the association, who witnessed the formal handing over of the affairs of the association between the outgoing and incoming executive members.