Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi has urged both the Federal and State governments to do more in the areas of security and education for the overall development of the society.

This, the Nasarawa State Number Three Citizen said that no nation would achieve meaningful progress and development without efficient security and education.

The Speaker made the call in his Independence message while fielding questions from newsmen in Lafia as Nigeria marks 62 years of Independence and Nasarawa State 26 years of its creation.

The Speaker said that since Independence of Nigeria and the creation of Nasarawa State respectively, there was remarkable progress, improvements and achievements despite the present challenges facing the nation.

” I want to appreciate Late General Sani Abacha, the former Head of State, who gave approval for the creation of Nasarawa State and the founding fathers of Nasarawa State for their efforts towards the actualization of the state.

” Since the creation of the state, unemployment and insecurity among other challenges as well as other developmental issues are been addressed.

” The creation of Nasarawa State honestly to a very large extend has brought development and progress to the state, you can go around, there is infrastructural development such as township roads, electricity, water supply, across the State and improved agricultural development among others.

” In the areas of education and health, we have Nasarawa State University Keffi, Federal Medical Centre Keffi, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, State Polytechnic Lafia, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Federal University Lafia among others.

” We have also cottage hospitals, general hospitals, specialist hospital among other achievements.

” Even though, government is trying in the areas of security and education but I want to call on government to do more, give more attention to security and education because when there is no peace, there will be no development.

” And where there is no education, no development, so government should focus more on primary, secondary and tertiary education so as to take our state and the country at large to the next level of development,” he said.

Balarabe Abdullahi also appealed to politicians to focus on issue-based campaign in the interest of peace and for the overall development of the nation as well as success of the 2023 general election.

” The time for fighting ourselves is over, let’s our campaign should strictly be issue-based.

” I urge the youths not to allow themselves to be used by any politicians, I want to call on the youth to urge politicians, who want to use them for thuggery to use their children and the politicians should be at the front line” he added.

The Speaker observed that the achievements recorded in the state under the administrations of former Gov. Tanko Al-Makura and the present administration of Gov. Abdullahi Sule was as a result of good working relationship between the executive and the legislature in the state.

He assured the executive arm of the assembly’s continued readiness under his watch for effective partnership for the overall development of the state.

“when I assumed office as the Speaker in the last assembly, the 5th assembly, I inherited a House full of suspicious and mistrust between the executive and the legislature as a result of the impeachment threat of the 4th Assembly.

” And of this, my first assignment was to build trust and synergy not just with the Executive but arms of government because that was the only way we can achieve development for our people, sustain peace, unity and progress in the state”

The Speaker while commending the media for their partnership with the House through adequate publicity assured of continued open door policy in order to give everybody a sense of belonging in the state.

He commended the efforts of Governor Abdullahi Sule in the last Three years of his administration for changing the fortune of the state and called on citizens to pray and support the Governor to succeed beyond 2023.

“let me be very frank and sincere to you, even if you are the worst enemy of Gov. Sule you will appreciate his efforts in tackling security challenges in the State not to talk of his achievements in other sectors”

Speaker Balarabe Abdullahi who holds the traditional title of Wali Opanda enjoined citizens to be law abiding, remain committed to constituted authorities and sustain peace and unity in respective of affiliations.