Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday, said collaboration between the public sector, especially the National Assembly, and the organized private sector was crucial to the nation’s economic development.

Bukola Saraki
Bukola Saraki
Saraki said this while addressing Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, Kyari Bukar, who led other members of the board on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.

He said: “The truth is that if we are going to build a strong economy, we in the public sector cannot do it without strong collaboration from the private sector and the level of collaboration has to be at this highest level.

“It has to be at this level because we need to understand what the issues are and we need to be able to address them and buy into them as an agenda before us.”

He said the Senate was already looking at some laws that are relevant to economic growth with the aim of bringing them up to date, in view of present realities.

According to the Senate President, ”just today (yesterday), we were talking about the railway sector and we found out that we are looking at a law that was enacted since the 1950s.

“So, why are we surprised that we are not getting the necessary investment in the railway sector? And I am sure it goes across other sectors of the economy.

“We have identified the bills that will impact on our economy, growth and employment. We will fast-track them and try to pass them as soon as possible. That is the commitment we are giving you.”

Earlier, Bukar noted that most Nigerians were yet to fully comprehend the role of the legislature since it remained the newest among the three arms of government.

He said that NESG was willing to work with the National Assembly to establish a framework of continuous engagement with the citizenry and the private sector to get a better understanding of the nation’s legislative process.

He said: “One simple tool that can quickly be harnessed is that of Information and Communication Technology, ICT, to ensure public information of all bills and their status on the National Assembly website.”

He also urged the National Assembly to ensure that all obsolete laws in the country were repealed and re-enacted to enhance national purpose and development.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/nass-private-sector-partnership-key-to-economic-devt-says-saraki/