From Fred Itua, Abuja

senate President Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday night in Abuja, said lawmakers were tired of passing annual budgets which are not fully implemented.

Saraki, while presenting a keynote address at the 2016 Awards/Dinner for Senators and Journalists covering the Senate, organised by the Senate Press Corps, called for close collaboration between the parliament and journalists.

“I think we are all tired of having budget documents that, at the end of the day, when it comes to implementation, they don’t mean anything. But, when we all come together and put all our best efforts, we have something that we will be proud of.

“And, it is also in this spirit that I am confident that this time around, we will also be able to pass the 2017 budget at the earliest time possible than we have seen in the last few years,” he said.

He urged the media to collaborate with the upper chamber in its efforts aimed at pulling the nation’s economy out of recession. He urged the media to always ensure truth and objectivity in their reportage of events so as to adequately inform and educate the people about the activities of the parliament.

Saraki said he will continue to plead for “objectivity and truth in your reporting. We must also continue to educate our good people on the efforts we are making in the Senate. I believe that over the last few months, a lot of work have been going on in the Senate, showing that it is more business-like approach and I am confident that during the remaining period of our tenure, we will definitely lay a foundation that others after us will build on.

“Some of the comments you might have heard today and you will hear in the during the budget process, are not comments that are against government. They are comments that will ensure that the product that we will deliver is a product that Nigerians will be proud of.”

Some of the award categories and the recipients include: Parliamentary Media Award for Leadership – Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume; Lawmaking Facilitator of the Year Award – Sen Andy Uba; Senator of the Year Award – Senator Dino Melaye; Gender Rights Senator of the Year Award – Senator Abiodun Olujimi; Senate Committee Chairman of the Year Award – Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and Outstanding Grassroots Parliamentarian Award – Senator Kabiru Gaya.

Others are: Most Innovative Constituency Project of the Year Award – Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Apostle of Peace in the Senate Award – Senator Barnabas Gemade; Parliamentary Advocate for Infrastructural Development Award – Senate Olugbenga Ashafa; Parliamentary Leader of the Decade Award – Senator David Mark; and Parliamentary Bureaucrat of the Year Award – Mr. Olajide Owolabi Adelami.