President Bola Tinubu has underscored the relevance of press freedom and separation of powers in democratic settings. He submitted that collaboration among the various arms of government and the press became imperative in order to drive home the various policies of his administration including tax reform.
He made this known at the 75th Posthumous birthday anniversary and Roundtable of the late former governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi with the theme; Legislative oversight and accountability in Nigeria; Challenges and prospect at the University of Ibadan.
Tinubu who was spoke through the Director General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Joseph Ochoku Dr. Joseph Ochoku, stated that effective governance is a shared responsibility, Collaboration and not confrontation.
He pointed out that a good example of the collaboration is the ongoing deliberation on the four proposed Tax Bills before the National Assembly, stressing that the reforms, when enacted, promise to streamline tax administration, enhance revenue generation, and promote equitable resource allocation. In his key note address, the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele submitted that effective legislative oversight requires close collaboration with the executive.
According to him, conducting oversight, the principles of co-operative government and intergovernmental relations must be taken into consideration, including the separation of powers and the need for all spheres of government and all organs of state to exercise their functions in a manner that does not encroach on the geographical functional or institutional integrity of government in another sphere.
