The president elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has urged all the 469 federal lawmakers elected for the incoming 8th National Assembly to be transparent in all their legislative functions, especially in their oversight functions so as to partner with the executive under his leadership in delivering to Nigerians good governance that is integrity-driven.

He also called for reduction in the cost of governance which, according to him, has been crowding out human and capital development in the country.

Buhari gave the charge to the federal lawmakers yesterday while delivering a speech at the ongoing induction course organized for them by the Nigerian Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS) at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

 He said his mission to bring integrity into governance would better succeed if complemented by a strong culture of transparent oversight from the legislators.

According to him, the legislature is a critical component and necessary ingredient of democracy and good governance, adding that the legislature by its nature is inherently democratic in the sense that all members are equal and are elected representatives of the Nigerian people.

“As president-elect, I recognize this fact and believe that legislators carry this heavy burden of representation with all the seriousness it deserves. For a president to be successful in addressing community development and general welfare of the various people of the country, he or she would benefit from working closely and in harmony with the legislative arm of government. I therefore commit myself to working with the legislature as development partners motivated by the desire to deliver good governance.

“First and foremost, appropriate policies need to be put in place and such policies may have to be translated into laws. Secondly, the oversight function of the legislature is critical in ensuring that policies are implemented effectively and transparently.

“Therefore, my mission to bring integrity into governance would better succeed if complemented with a strong culture of transparent oversight,” he stated.

Buhari had, earlier in the speech, reeled out the challenges facing the nation on which his administration would need the National Assembly as a partner in progress in tackling them, one of which is the high cost of governance, which he said, must be reduced drastically through restructuring of the public sector.

“We need to collaborate on the budget process and restructuring of the public sector so as to collectively tackle the menace of high recurrent cost at the expense of capital and human development,” he said.

Other challenges he said his government would need the support of the legislators in tackling are general insecurity in the land, endemic corruption, high rate of unemployment, decline in revenues due fall in oil prices, devastation and environmental degradation and unacceptably poor provision of power supply, etc.

“Distinguished members of the 8th National Assembly, I see these development challenges as the mission of my presidency. I need the support of the members of National Assembly on the battle front. I need your support in many respects,” he said.

The president of the Senate, David Mark, had earlier in his welcome remarks told the president-elect that he needed to work very closely with the National Assembly to achieve the best as far as good governance is concerned.