The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu, has assured that lawmakers in the present 10th National Assembly would make legislations to positively address climate-related issues as they affect Nigeria.
The deputy speaker gave the assurance in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen to commemorate the 2023 International Day of the Parliamentarism.
The International Day of Parliamentarism is celebrated every year on 30 June, the date in 1889 on which Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, was founded. The Day was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution.
According to Kalu, the Day affords the parliaments across the globe to review the progress they have made in achieving their outlined goals in their areas of responsibility.
He added that it also allows the parliaments to carry out self-assessment on the implementation of their goals such as inclusion of more women and youths as members of parliament and adapting to new technological innovations.
The lawmaker said that the 2023 occasion, themed: ‘Parliaments for the Planet’, was to mobilise and make parliaments more responsible and responsive to the climate change issues and other related emergencies.
The deputy speaker explained that climate change was negatively affecting lives by destroying lives and property development, peace and security all over the world.
“Climate action begins at home. Parliaments and those who work in them can take concrete steps towards reducing their carbon footprint, both as institutions and individuals.
“By adopting greener policies and embracing a culture of sustainability, parliaments can help in addressing the crisis caused by the climate change.
“As a newly inaugurated National Assembly member, I want to assure Nigerians and the key stakeholders on climate change issues that as the parliament settles down, we would prioritise climate change issues.
“The 10th Parliament would lead by example. We shall prioritise the greening of our parliament, greening the way we work, and we will lead and foster a culture of sustainable change,” he said.
