Saraki leads NASS delegation to 137th IPU in Russia

A delegation of the National Assembly to the 137th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, led by President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, departed Nigeria on Thursday to St. Petersburg, Russia, for the session.

Chief Press Secretary to Saraki, Mr Sanni Onogu, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja that the assembly would hold between Oct. 14 and Oct. 18.

The theme of the session is “Promoting Cultural Pluralism and Peace through Inter-faith and Inter-ethnic Dialogue.”

Onogu said that Saraki, a member of the Governing Board of IPU, would present a keynote address at the assembly.

He said that the president of the senate would also participate in debates and meet with the Chairman of Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Valentina Matvienko.

The aide said that Saraki was also expected to meet with the Chairman, State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Vyacheslav Volodin.

He said that he would hold session with President, House of Councillors of Morocco, Hakim Benchamach, and an interactive session with Nigerians in Diaspora at the sidelines.

“One of the issues slated for consideration during the session is the draft resolutions on the 20th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Democracy by IPU standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights.

“It includes the role of the UN General Assembly in International Governance by IPU standing Committee on United Nations Affairs,’’ he said.

He added that Saraki would equally brief on the parliamentary contribution to the 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference and participate in a debate on engaging the private sector in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Onogu said that Saraki would participate at the expert hearing on sustaining peace as a vehicle for achieving sustainable development by IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security.

Delegates in company with the president of the senate, accordingto the statement, are Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and Deputy Leader of Delegation, Rep. Lasun Yussuff, Sen. Bayero Nafada, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim and Sen. Stella Oduah.

Others include Reps Samuel Ikon, Nnanna Igbokwe, Abubakar Fulata and Funke Adedoyin while advisers on the team are Sen. Duro Faseyi and Rep. Abdulsamad Dasuki.