Opinion: The challenges before Saraki’s 8th Senate in 2016
Op-Ed Editor January 4, 2016


No doubt, we are living in times of unique challenges and unprecedented economic upheaval desirous of good leadership with latent capabilities and charisma at the epicentre.

The vulnerability of ‘change’ – (the slogan used by the present administration to promise Nigerians better living condition during the campaign period) is in itself a hereditary process as far clearing an existing mess is concerned. It is obvious that this present leadership must consider salient specific thematic foundational issues to avoid taking misguided steps into the future.

In retrospect, the last six months of Senator Bukola Saraki’s reign as the Chairman of the 8th National Assembly will arguably pass as the most tumultuous from inauguration in its history, yet resolute in the face of daunting challenges. Of course, in laying the right foundation for a Senate in a perpetual state of indolence from the 7th Assembly will without a doubt come with its jolly, delightful, obnoxious, repulsive decisions and any other adjectives that can be inserted to expanded the lexical knowledge recursively.



The National Assembly started on a strong foothold by aligning its agenda with that of the executive arm as a prerequisite to speedily identify the impediments in the wheel of its progress in order to bridge the gap and ensure purposeful oversight. There were demands made of the Bukola Saraki led senate to reduce overhead spending and trim down on Senators allowances. These, he assented to by reducing the sum total budget of N120b from the previous NASS to N115b which like many Nigerians have expressed their views that such reduction was welcomed but can be further pruned down to meet economic realities.

The vibrancy in the Senate today is never seen before; Senators are seen within the premises discharging their committee duties even on non-plenary sitting days- these renewed level of commitment could only be an exhibition of leadership by example. Bukola Saraki has never been afraid to speak where others dread, without the bidding of any godfather he led the characters in an open play of wisdom to emerge the Senate President of the 8th National Assembly. Weeks of meticulous debate clearly shows that there couldn’t have been a more refined candidate for this coveted position than Saraki.

This became quite evident in the way and manner Saraki led his colleagues to be at their professional best during the ministerial screening and eventual confirmation.  This is a deviation from the norm in previous Senate where personal interests prevail and external influence often marred such exercise. It is also worthy of note that Bukola Saraki has communicated his plans effectively through the social media platforms and while the NGRSenate account continues to provide live tweets on plenary activities to take the conversation higher.

Again, Saraki was quite livid with his colleagues on the floor of the senate after admitting that the arms deal probe popularly referred to as #DasukiGate was an indictment on the Senate for falling short of their oversight. This indeed, was a clarion call to charge the Senators on effective performance. The Senate with oversight on Treasury Single Account, IDPs visitation, MTEP implementation, and creation of enabling environment to woo investors through legislations are signs of what more to expect in 2016 legislative calendar.

In an emerging democracy like ours, strong legislatures are what we require to create laws that encourage local production and an enabling business environment for small businesses to thrive.

The 8th Senate will be banking on the experiences garnered over the years by Senator Bukola Saraki to marshal out potential areas where the youths can be engaged productively in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (#SDG).

Key oversight functions and laws aimed at ending insurgencies and bringing political stability to the North-East zone will be welcomed to fast track human and infrastructural development.

The challenges ahead are daunting and it is in the interest of the legislative to continue to support the executive on policy formulation and enactment of enlightened laws for benefit of the populace.

The strong willed leadership of Bukola Saraki as a two term governor, Senator representing Kwara Central and now President and Chairman of the 8th National Assembly will wade through the storm to deliver the quality of leadership desired by Nigerians.

As an achiever steadily marching on in his political sojourn; it has always been a new beginning for the closing of a chapter and the opening of a new one. Every of those opportunities have opened a chapter of hope and a bright future for Nigeria.

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Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Wale Bakare is a writer and a social media enthusiast with strong affection for politics, Agriculture and the conservation of the environment. His works have been published on numerous online blogs and magazine. Wale writes from Lagos and can be reached on twitter at @waleflame and by e-mail at waleflame@gmail.com