President Muhammadu Buhari has has dismissed the suggestion that he controls the National Assembly, saying that his cordial relationship with them does not imply that the legislators are being controlled.

Buhari made the statement through his senior special assistant on National Assembly matters (House of Representatives), Umar El-Yakub.

“The executive arm of government has always partnered with the members of the National Assembly, especially the 9th Assembly, as demonstrated by their actions in terms of expeditious passage of bills as well as screening of nominees for various appointments,” he said.

The president also stated that the cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature is aimed at servicing Nigerians generally.