The Senate president, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, will today lead the Nigerian delegation to participate in the 4th United Nations Conference of Parliamentary Heads held at the organisation’s headquarters in New York, the United States.

This year’s conference, which will be declared open by the United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki-Moon, will feature a presentation of reports and general debate on “placing democracy at the service of peace and sustainable development.”

Other issues billed for debate include ‘Challenges facing Parliaments today’, ‘Parliamentary Oversight: challenges and opportunities’, while a bi-lateral meeting with Dr. Saraki is expected to be hosted by the speaker of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset), Yuli-Yoel Edelstein.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) and selected Heads of Parliaments (GLOBE International Representation) are also expected to meet on the sidelines of the conference.

The Senate president is billed to address the session of the world forum on Wednesday, September 2, and later hold a press conference immediately after the speech.

Saraki is accompanied on the trip by senators Andy Uba, Shehu Sani and Dino Melaye.

Others in the entourage include the special adviser to the Senate president on economic matters, Dr. Uchendu Okoye and the special assistant on public partnerships.

The Senate president and his team departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for New York on Saturday ahead of the conference which begins on Monday, August 31, and ends on Wednesday, September 3.

Saraki yesterday congratulated Mallam Garba Deen-Muhammad on his election as the president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). He also urged the NGE to join hands with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other relevant stakeholders to rid the noble pen profession of quacks and impostors whose activities undermine the credibility of the true professionals.