The Nigerian Senate and the Department for International Development (DFID) committee of the British parliament, on Thursday, pledged to collaborate towards deepening the nation’s democracy and strengthening bilateral ties between both countries.

The pledge was made during the visit of the British parliamentarians in the International Development Committee, led by Mr Stephen Twigg, to the office of the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

Twigg, leader of the United Kingdom (UK) group, explained the purpose of their visit: “We are looking at the work of DFID – the Department for International Development – in Nigeria. And we are also looking at some of the challenges that you face in terms of economy, health, education and security situation. I want to really say how much we value the relationship between our two countries – the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom – and part of our purpose in being here is to celebrate that relationship and to look at how we can strengthen and to deepen those ties.”

The Senate president urged the UK, through the DFID, to extend their attention to the Nigerian parliament, saying such a move will make the legislators more assertive, autonomous and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian electorate. His words: “I will appeal to you, through the DFID, to also focus on the legislative arm of government, because the changes that we want to happen in this country will depend largely on what we do here in the parliament; both on the short, medium and the long term.”

Saraki specifically pleaded with the DFID team: “I will appeal to you, through the DFID, to also focus on the legislative arm of government, because the changes that we want to happen in this country will depend largely on what we do here in the parliament; both on the short, medium and the long term.”

While informing the delegation that the National Assembly has taken some measure to provide an enabling environment conducive for doing business in the country, Saraki noted: “We have realised, apart from the macro-economic factors, the quality of our laws as regards doing business. One of the first things we did in the Senate was to look at our existing laws and see how they are in sync with the ease of doing business. The World Bank report on ease of doing business does not rate Nigeria very well. So, what we have done is to identify those laws that are both necessary and important and, that if we review them, they will go a long way in making us more favourable to investment. It is core for us to create that enabling environment for investments that will create job opportunities for our youths.”

•Photo shows Dr Saraki in hand-shake with Mr Twigg, while others look on . . . yesterday in Abuja.