First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has urged former Speakers and Deputy Speakers of state Houses of Assembly to remain involved in public service after leaving political office, saying their experience remains valuable to Nigeria’s development.
She made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the National Summit of the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly of Nigeria.
According to a statement by the Presidency, Tinubu encouraged the former legislative leaders to mentor younger lawmakers, strengthen democratic institutions and preserve institutional knowledge gained from their years in office.
She said former presiding officers had played important roles in legislation, governance and development across their respective states and should continue contributing to national development.
The summit also featured the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election by the former Speakers and Deputy Speakers. The forum said it would mobilise its members nationwide in support of the President’s re-election.
The forum also endorsed the administration’s economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, and resolved to take its message to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Former Plateau State Governor and former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Simon Lalong, also expressed support for Tinubu’s return in 2027. He argued that the President should be given more time to implement the economic reforms introduced by his administration.
Lalong highlighted the removal of the petrol subsidy as one of the difficult decisions taken by the administration and called for greater investment in agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, education, energy and technology.
He also urged stronger legislative oversight, fiscal responsibility and cooperation among the executive, legislature and other institutions to support the reform process.
Meanwhile, the forum’s Board of Trustees Chairman and Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, a former Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, stressed the need for closer cooperation between the executive and legislature.
Nwifuru called for increased investment in productive sectors and urged former presiding officers to remain engaged in national affairs, particularly through their experience in legislation, oversight and governance.
The forum further called on the President and state governors to make greater use of the experience of former presiding officers in appointments and policy formulation.