₦airaland Forum

Press Release

March 5, 2016


Saraki congratulates Obasanjo, New Olubadan, Condoles with Ganduje


Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Saturday congratulated ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on his 79th birthday and the new Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Ogungunniso I on his ascension to the throne as the 41st Olubadan.


Saraki also commiserated with the Governor of Kano Sate, Alhaji Abdullahi  Ganduje over the demise of his mother, Hajia Fadimatu Ganduje.


The Senate President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu in Abuja, described Obasanjo as a worthy statesman even as he prayed God to grant him good health, wisdom and more years of fruitful service to the fatherland.

"President Obasanjo is a national leader who has not only led this country meritoriously as a military Head of State and civilian President but has continued to guide the nation with his wise counsel even in retirement. He is one true Nigerian whose passion for the unity and development of Nigeria is unparalleled. I wish him many more years of invaluable service to our country," Saraki said.

He said he was equally pleased to join the government and people of Oyo State in celebrating the ascension of Oba Adetunji to the throne of the Olubadan.

"No doubt, Oba Adetunji has all it takes to build on the solid foundation laid by his forebears and to advance the culture, tradition and development of Ibadan," Saraki said, even as he wished the new monarch long reign on the throne characterized by peace, unity and prosperity for his immediate domain in particular, Yorubaland and the country in general.

He added: "Oba Adetunji is not only versed in the culture and traditions of Ibadan land, he is also a man with full grasp of current developments around the world. His ascension to the throne will not only enrich the culture and tradition of Ibadan land but will also contribute to the unity of the Yoruba nation," he said.

He equally condoled with the people and government of Kano State over the death of the Governor's mother and prayed Allah to grant the deceased Aljanah Firdaus. 

END

Signed 

Yusuph Olaniyonu

Special Adviser, Media and Publicity,  to the Senate President

‎RE: Bukola Saraki: Sunset At Noon. By Sulyman Buhari. 

When British philosopher and social critic‎, Bertrand Russell opined that, "Whenever one finds oneself inclined to bitterness, it is a sign of emotional failure", ‎he must have had characters like Iyiola Oyedepo on mind.

It is instructive to note that, Iyiola, the author of an op-ed article titled, "Bukola Saraki: Sunset At Noon"‎, is the embattled chairman of the deceased Peoples Democratic Party in Kwara State‎. 

For Iyiola, his recent vituperation is not unpredictable. He is perpetually ‎inclined to bitterness and everything anti-Saraki. He belongs to the class of hypocrites and demagogues who believe the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki is the only political factor diminishing their political relevance and dampening their political survival in the politics of Kwara State. Therefore, he couldn't have surmounted the temptation of concealing his excitement at the realisation that his fellow-traducers have set the machinery of the law against his first enemy. 

Before I address the crux of his most recent diatribe against the person of the Senate President, I wish to digress in order to convincingly establish why comments and opinions of Iyiola have ceased to hold water in the political landscape of Kwara State. Kwarans no longer listen to him as much as they no longer believe him. It remains a potent premise upon which Nigerians should ignore and disregard his latest ‎layers of lies, catalogue of half-truths, wild assertions, ‎hallucinations, expressed delusions.

I must admit that before his emergence as the chairman of the opposition PDP in Kwara State, he has cut an image of an acclaimed self-righteous social critic and public affair analyst for himself. He had written articles on internal democracy within political parties, governance and quite a few topical issues. 

As if the gods wanted to shame him, he once again emerged party chairman. He ruined his party with undemocratic actions, and ‎greedy appetite for wealth, like he betrayed his former party, the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN). He turned out to be worse than persons in positions of authority who had been the subjects of his criticisms. The veil shielding the hypocrite was uncovered. The hypocrite was exact opposite of all he had written in the past. He lived a fake life, you may say. As the party chairman, if he was accused of diverting party funds to buy himself SUV on Monday, the next day; he would be alleged of failure to disclose funds he got on behalf his party from the looters of yesterday at Abuja. He couldn't even lead his executive committee of less than 50 persons, so conducting credible congresses and party primary election for his party members never happened. Having looted his party and in respect to other scandals, he has on himself the toga and stains of corruption.

Therefore, it is preposterous for the hypocrite to have attempted to put the Senate President in the group of ‎convicted Nigerians. Dr. Saraki doesn't belong to the group of infamy. Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki belongs to the group of distinguished Nigerians who have paid their dues for the sustenance of the Nigeria's nascent democracy over the last two decades that he held privileged positions of leadership in the country. He belong to the group of Nigerians who have ever pursued their dreams of a better Nigeria despite hurdles placed on their ways by their adversaries. 

In his latest article, ‎the hypocrite made futile and vain attempt to rewrite the history of Kwara politics since 2003 till date. It was a false and faulty chronicle. The piece is as faulty as the writer, who lacks credibility to speak on such issues. However, since the ongoing trial of the Senate President at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) is the crux of his most recent diatribe, I will, therefore, move to address some of the issues raised.

Like the hypocrite admitted in the article, the trial of the Senate President is politically-motivated. It only further confirms that the conspiracy transcends a single party. Really, there is no reasonable reason why the ICPC, EFCC, SFU and other agencies of the State would not have thrown out the litany of petitions written against the Senate President and sponsored by Mr Iyiola, as he admitted, when the contents were largely frivolous, false and unsubstantiated. Like those thrown-away petitions, this trial will soon phaseout. 

Meanwhile, it is unfortunate that the hypocrite could betray his professional competence when he insinuated that the ‎decision of the legal counsels to the Senate President to explore preliminary legal options is that of a guilty person trying to evade judgement. That is untrue. The hypocrite as a supposed lawyer should know that despite the Supreme Court judgement, the issue of jurisdiction cannot be acceptably settled without reference to section 6 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). 

On the same issue, a professor of Con‎stitutional Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ben Nwabueze recently said, "he (Senate President) has a contitutional right to be tried in accordance with Section 6 of our Constitution. To go against that is to put into jeopardy our constitutional system. The Supreme Court should not be allowed to put all of us into this kind of jeopardy. This country belongs to all of us, not to the Justices of the Supreme Court alone". The above quote is instructive to cure the ignorance of Mr. Iyiola and his fellow-tranducers. 


I wish to reiterate that the true test of leadership is the amount of challenges that are faced and surmounted. As a former Presidential Adviser on Budget, two-term Governor of Kwara State, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors' Forum and now a second-term Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it will be preposterous to think that Senator Bukola Saraki's path will not be rough.


This ongoing politically-motivated trial is therefore part of the rough paths of leadership and like those challenges he has faced and surmounted in the past, this too shall pass. It has come and it will go. 

If only Iyiola had harkened to the advice of Martin Luther King, Jr, that, "Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness", perhaps, he wouldn't have come out to dance naked in the public square.

@NGRSenate Senate, @UKParliament pledge collaboration


The Nigerian Senate and the United Kingdom (UK) parliament on Thursday pledged to collaborate towards deepening the nation's democracy and strengthening the ties that exists between both countries.


The pledge was made when United Kingdom parliamentarians in the International Development Committee led by Mr. Stephen Twigg visited the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, in Abuja.


The Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sanni Onogu, in a statement in Abuja said Saraki urged the UK through its Department for International Development (DFID), to extend their attention to parliamentarians in Nigeria, saying such move will make the legislators more assertive, autonomous and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian electorate. 


He called on the parliamentarians to assist the country in building the capacity of her legislators and their aides in order to boost their skills in the act of legislation and support services respectively.


Saraki said: "I will appeal to you through DFID to also focus on the legislative arm of government because the changes that we want to happen in this country will depend largely on what we do here in the parliament both on the short, medium and the long term."


He told the delegation that the National Assembly has taken it upon itself to provide an enabling environment that is conducive for doing business in the country. 


"One of the things we have realized apart from the macro economic factors is the quality of our laws as regards to doing business. One of the first things we did in the Senate is to look at our existing laws and see how they are in sync with the ease of doing business. 


"The World Bank report on ease of doing business  does not rate Nigeria very well. So what we have done is to identify those laws that are both necessary and important and that if we review them will go a long way in making us more favourable to investment.


"It is key for us to create that enabling environment for investments that will create job opportunities for our youths," the Senate President told the UK parliamentarians. delegation. 


In his remarks, the leader of the United Kingdom Parliamentarians in the International Development Committee, Stephen Twigg, said the visit was meant to evaluate the work of DFID in Nigeria and also to look into some of the big challenges confronting Nigeria in terms of economy, health, education and security.


Twigg said: "We are looking at the work of DFID - the Department for International Development - in Nigeria and we are also looking at some of the challenges that you face in terms of economy, health, education and security situation. 


"I want to really say how much we value the relationship between our two countries - the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom and part of our purpose in being here is to celebrate that relationship and to look at how we can strengthen and to deepen those ties," he said.

Members of mining and geo-scienses society of Nigeria visits Saraki.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuxLQnteTMo

Bukola Saraki To Receive Report On Business Environment In Nigeria

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki will today formally receive the Business Environment Legislative Review Report developed by a team of Legal Advisers to the ENABLE-DFID programme, led by Prof Paul Idornigie (SAN).

A statement from the Office of the Senate President in Abuja stated the report initiated by the Senate President was in fulfilment of his commitment to Social Accountability and the Legislative Agenda of the 8th National Assembly geared towards creating a business friendly environment in the country.

The statement added that: "Following the legislative agenda of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 8th National Assembly, and in consultation with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Nigerian Bar Association – Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) and other key private sector stakeholders; the Office of the Senate President initiated a review of the institutional, regulatory and legal instruments currently constraining and impeding business activity in Nigeria.

"With the technical aid and support of ENABLE-DFID and GEMS 3 programmes, a team of experts conducted a business environment legislative review covering the entire raft of legal structures affecting businesses today. The underlying objective of the review is to provide a framework for the assessment and improvement of legislation and policy affecting businesses in Nigeria"‎, the statement added.

Prof. Paul Idornigie led the team of Legal Advisers that conducted the research of business environment acts and bills and developed the Business Environment Legislative Review Report.

The report is expected to propose priority legislative areas that will provide a solid foundation of evidence to set priorities for new and revised business environment legislation by the National Assembly.

“With the reform of key sectors of the economy, there is a critical need to facilitate an enabling environment for private sector participation. There are Bills pending before the National Assembly that are of priority importance to doing business and overall private sector development in Nigeria, especially in infrastructure delivery”‎, it stated.

Expected at the presentation which will take place at the National Assembly today are the the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara; World Bank representatives; the Chairman of the NESG, Mr. Kyari Bukar, the Nigerian Bar Association - Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) representatives led by Asue Ighodalo; and private sector and media stakeholders.

END

2016 Budget: Saraki, Dogara Reject N10bn Official Residence

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara last week rejected the proposed estimate of N10bn included in the 2016 estimate of the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the building of their official residences.

Both Saraki and Dogara agreed that the cost of the buildings should be reduced to one billion Naira each, thereby saving the country a sum of N8billion. They have informed the chairmen of the Committee on FCT in    both chambers to reflect the decision in their report to the Committee on Appropriation.

The Senate President and Speaker said in view of the economic situation in the country and the need for every public official to be frugal, building a house worth N6bn and N4bn respectively for them  was unnecessary and insensitive.

The two top legislators said the FCT ministry should either scale down the  cost of the projects and ensure they do not go beyond N1bn each or the Ministry should forget the idea until after the tenure of  Saraki and Dogara.

The Senate President was living in his personal house in Maitama area of Abuja until a fire incident late last year forced him to relocate to an official guest house while Dogara residing a in a rented apartment.

Sources  say that the wish of the Senate President had been reflected in the report submitted by the Senate Committee on FCT to the Appropriation Committee.

I Still Use Malfunctioning Car - Saraki


Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has revealed that he has been using an old inherited malfunctioning car since he assumed office June last year.

His statement is in reaction to a Premium Times report that Saraki took delivery of new cars, worth over N330m.

According to the paper, the National Assembly sought to purchase a 2016 model Mercedes Benz S550, four 2016 Toyota Prado jeeps, four 2016 Toyota Hilux SS (Auto) as well as a 2016 model Toyota Hiace Bus.

However, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki maintained that it was wrong for Premium Times to classify vehicles provided for security agencies like the police and State Security Service by the National Assembly management for their operations as vehicles bought for the Senate President.

He insisted that his official vehicle, a Mercedes Benz, was changed and that the spare car in the convoy is the old one he inherited and has been using since entering office, pointing out that “It is an obvious fact that the official and spare cars that the Senate President inherited and has been using are old and have been malfunctioning.”

According to the statement, it was as a result of the constant malfunctioning of his official vehicle that Saraki “approved that instead of providing two vehicles for him as he is entitled, only one should be bought to replace the official vehicle while the old official car should be converted to spare car.”

The statement added that “if the National Assembly Management chose to provide operational vehicles for Security Agencies, should that be presented as if they are personal or official vehicles meant for the use of Dr. Saraki? These are vehicles that cannot be used for other purposes and by other people. The Senate President also have no control over the security vehicles.”

It accused Premium Times of purposely being mischievous by using current dollar rates to gauge the amount spent on the vehicles, despite the fact that it was ordered in December.

“This is obviously a mischief aimed at making the figure look huge and justify the screaming headline.

“The press should avoid deliberately inciting members of the public against public officials. The Senate President and his colleagues are conscious of the economic situation in the country and will continue to act responsibly and responsive,” the statement read.

“Just last week, Dr. Saraki was informed that the Ministry of FCT in its 2016 budget proposed a N6 billion estimate for the construction of the official residence of the Senate President. He outrightly rejected the proposal and directed Senator Dino Melaye, Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT to bring down the cost to one billion Naira. He said that it should be made known to the Ministry that if it cannot construct the building with N1 billion then they should leave out the project entirely till after his tenure. He said he will rather stay in his present abode. Senator Melaye had already acted as instructed as indicated in the report his committee presented to the Appropriation Committee.

“It should therefore be noted that if Dr. Saraki can demonstrate frugality and responsible leadership in a matter that saved the country so much money, how can it then be presented as if purchase of cars is a big issue that he cares so much about? Those who know the antecedent of the Senate President know that there is no type of vehicle that can excite him at this stage in his life,” Olaniyonu stated.

Below are the updates and videos you might have missed today:

Saraki remarks On Senate TSA Investigation: Says Upwards of N25billion Saved
http://www.abubakarbukolasaraki.com/saraki-remarks-on-senate-tsa-investigation-says-upwards-of-n25billion-saved/

Senate Addresses South African MultiChoice ( Price Hike Today - Saraki
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154041968279962&id=53942489961

Photo News: Saraki Meets IDPs Medical Doctors
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154042099209962&id=53942489961

Video: Senator Anyanwu Reading The Petitions Received By The Committee On Ethics, Privileges And Public Petitions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjJky2DzO64

Video: Senator Nazif Gives Situation Reports On The Increase In Electricity Tariff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4al1WjSRIs

Video: Senator Goje, Notifying The Senate of His Committee's Readiness To Receive Various Committees' Reports On 2016 Budgets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW3A2-MLH3A

Fresh: Presidency Consults Atiku, Tinubu, Saraki, Others
www.promptnewsonline.com/presidency-consults-atiku-tinubu-saraki-others/

So Far, So Good: The 8th Senate and the Nigerian Mandate By Saka Olawale

Democracy is seen as one of the ultimate ideals that modern civilisations strive to create and preserve. The word democracy literally means rule by the people, taken from the Greek terms, demos (meaning ―people), and kratos (meaning ―rule). It is a political concept and form of government, where all people are supposed to have equal voices in shaping policy (typically expressed through a vote for representatives) and one thing is certain: no country can long have a workable democracy without a vibrant and meaningful legislature and legislative process.

In as much as the legislative arm of  government is very important in any democratic state, the independence of this arm goes a long way in enhancing good governance. In Nigeria, the federal legislative arm, the National Assembly, is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. These two houses  are charged with the sole responsibility of making laws that would impact on the people.

Since the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly under the leadership of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the legislative chamber has become more vibrant, with legislative processes that impact the lives of average Nigerians. Matching words with actions, Saraki in his inaugural speech promised that there would be a serious connection between the National Assembly and the Nigerian people. Since then, there have been steady updates of the plenary session to Nigerians via various social media networks. Because not every Nigerian can attend every single Senate plenary, the 8th Senate has made it easy of us all to follow its activities on the Red Chamber via Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Another good point scored by the 8th senate was the huge success attained at the end of the Ministerial Screening exercise. The Senate screened President Muhammadu Buhari’s 36 ministerial nominees in an exercise that was both colourful and dramatic. The exercise also raised the issue of thoroughness as some of the nominees were hardly grilled as expected.  Despite the threat shown by some of the PDP senators against some of the ministerial nominees, PDP senators vowed to make the screening exercise a hell for the likes of Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Lai Mohammed. However, Nigerians were amazed with the way Saraki handled the screening exercise. It is a known fact that the presidency under Buhari has not hidden his dislike for Saraki since his emergence on June 9, 2015. Nevertheless, the leadership of the 8th Senate was able to successfully screen all the ministerial nominees because of the political dexterity of Saraki.

Since the inception of democracy in Nigeria, we have not had a Senate that proposed a legislative agenda to Nigerians. However, this 8th Senate has a 18-member strong committee on the legislative agenda. According to Saraki, the committee has been would saddled with the responsibility of charting the course for the 8th Senate. The objectives and mission of the legislative agenda are geared towards  increasing the institutional capacity of the Senate, building the legislative autonomy and strengthening the committee system, oversight functions, extensive representation and outreach, stakeholder and civil society involvement, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reduction running cost, and effective legislative support system. With the legislative agenda Nigerians can always run a check on the Senate and always call the leadership of the senate to order whenever its about derailing from its legislative agenda.

The 8th Senate started on a shaky note, with the elections of the senate leadership causing a crisis both within the Senate and the ruling party, APC. Regardless of this, for the first time in a long time, the lawmakers in the Senate have a bi-partisan leadership with Senator Bukola Saraki from the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Senate president while Senator Ike Ekweremadu as his Deputy from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Despite party and ideological differences among the senators, Saraki’s leadership of the Senate has been able to unite the lawmakers in the interest of Nigeria. As it stands, Saraki enjoys strong support of his colleagues thus making it easy for bills and motions to be passed.

The media is the link between the National Assembly and the Nigerian people. For the prompt, effective and efficient reporting of news, the Senate Press Corps has to be effective. On February 2nd, 2016, the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki unveiled the newly renovated Press Centre of the Senate Press Corps. The Vice-Chairman of the Senate Press Centre while appreciating the entire senate for this great gesture, said that in the history of Nigerian Senate, no Senate President has ever recognised the Senate Press Corps like Bukola Saraki.

Though legislators do not govern, they provide the means by which a political system can maintain the balance between effectiveness and consent. In this regard, legislators stand between the needs of the government to be able to raise resources necessary to carry out a programme of public policy and to maintain the consent of the people. The 8th Senate has focused majorly on energizing every sector, particularly those that directly affect the masses such as power, security, infrastructure and economic growth. For example, the Senate recently directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to stop the fixed charges on electricity, and the bulk-metering of rural communities. 

There have been several unsuccessful campaigns in 2004, 2009, and 2010 to pass a bill aimed at encouraging the purchase of locally made products. If such a bill is passed, it is capable of jumpstarting the Nigerian economy. As it stands, the #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira initiative has taken a positive new dimension, as Senators from both sides of the political divide are driving this campaign to promote our domestic economy. Saraki has also mentioned that the Senate would be working on the review and amendment of the procurement act. This amendment would work to ensure that Made in Nigeria goods receive ‘first dibs’ by the government. Some parameters of this amendment, Saraki explained, would include provisions that would ensure that government agencies would only resort to imported goods when there are no domestic alternatives.

Finally, for the very first time in the history of the National Assembly, the joint-leadership of both Houses invited the general public to have an input in the budget debate process. The Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and representatives of Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, met with civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to discuss the budget.The aim of this meeting was to afford civil society and non-governmental organizations an opportunity to contribute their ideas, perspectives, inputs and strategies to that of the National Assembly, in order to pass a budget that Nigerians can call their own. This meeting also signalled that the National Assembly under its current leadership is committed to a more open National Assembly.

REMARKS ON THE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC GERMANY, HIS EXCELLENCY JOACHIM GUACK ON THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY, 2016.
 
Protocol;
 
1.   I wish to express my immense delight to receive Your Excellency, Her Excellency and entourage to the Nigerian National Assembly. The National Assembly deeply appreciates the visit of this high powered delegation at this very challenging period in our nation. This is historic and quite welcome.
  
2.       Traditionally, Nigeria and Germany have very close, friendly and excellent relations. It is pleasing to know that efforts to foster stronger ties and bonds have continued to be maintained by our two countries.
 
3.   Your Excellency’s visit would not only further cement our cordial relations but demonstrates that the international community, and in this case, that Germany is on the same page with this Administration’s stance against terrorism and its attendant insecurity as well as the fight against corruption.
 
4.   Your Excellency, your visit to the National Assembly underscores the importance you attach to the role that the legislature plays and can influence in our drive to deepen our democracy, strengthen the rule of law and foster liberty and development.
 
5.   This Assembly, in order to consolidate on the objectives stated above shall earnestly support the Executive in its fight against corruption, terrorism and insecurity. We urge you, to use your good office as President of Germany to promote and support our efforts in this regards.
 
6.   Our country is presently experiencing the challenges of global terrorism. Notwithstanding the significant victories we have recorded, Boko Haram has continued to pose colossal national and regional security challenge. 
 
7.   We have a lot to learn from Germany and to gain from stronger Nigeria-Germany relation in this regard. So we call on the German government and the EU to lend us their unflinching support and solidarity in order for us to fully eliminate terrorism from the sub region. I believe that every effort in this area is a paramount investment as the Regional stability, security and development is tied to achieving global peace. 
 
8.   We urge you to particularly help us return our Internally Displaced People back to their homes and fully reintegrate them into the society.
 
9.   Let me use this opportunity to recognise Germany’s immense contribution to the Nigeria economy so far; from construction to technology, oil and gas. The National Assembly is working hard to change our business and investment climate through several initiatives aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and the risks involved. 
 
10.        We also look forward to closer and stronger working relation between our parliaments.
 
11.        We welcome Your Excellency once again to the National Assembly and thank you for the visit.
 
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Senate 30 Bills: Placing The Template For A New Nigeria

By: Bamikole Omishore
 
 
The 8th Senate under the leadership of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, stands on the precipice of attaining positive legislative change. As the whole country aligns itself with the agenda party at the center, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the National Assembly has gradually but surely worked towards setting new legislative precedents for Nigeria. 

This piece, written against the backdrop of the near-actualization of some of the legislative standards that the 8th Senate is setting, focuses on the legislative agenda of Nigeria’s upper chamber.
 
The Legislature
The legislature is the lubricant that oils the wheel of every democratic government. As the most representative of the three arms of government, the legislature deals with the enactment and review of laws, formation of policy, and oversight of the activities of the other arms of government. These crucial roles make the legislature unarguably the arm of government that directly contributes to the successes, or leads to the failures of democratic governments. No nation can succeed without an upright and independent legislature that is aggressive at providing the country with efficient legislations as at when needed.
 
In this regard, as a way to ensure that Nigeria is equipped with appropriate and meaningful statutes, the Chairman of National Assembly, Dr. Saraki, has indicated that a number of bills that are currently in the legislative pipeline will provide the much-needed reform to jumpstart the Nigerian economy, and strengthen many of Nigeria’s institutions. In a series of tweets on his Twitter handle, Dr. Bukola Saraki recently highlighted that some of the bills in question, augment many of our preexisting laws as they address certain areas of government where immediate action and legislative intervention are needed.
 


#The30Bills
These are a set of proposed bills before the 8th Senate to fast-track the necessary positive ‘Change’ of the Buhari administration. These bills, when passed, would undoubtedly transform the nation's security agencies, overhaul aspects of the judiciary, enhance the anti-corruption crusade, diversify the economy through viable alternative means, and effectively tackle our transportation and taxation problems. These bills have the potential to curb poverty, and reduce unemployment by creating a business-friendly environment for investors and small medium enterprises.
 
Some of the bills include:The Police Reform Bill; the Justice Reform Bill; the Criminal Procedure Law Amendment Bill and the Whistleblower Protection Bill. Others are the Budget Reform Bill; the Ecological Funds Utilization and Management Bill; the Excess Crude Account Management Bill, that sets guidelines for the management of surplus crude resources; and the National Assembly Budget  & Research Office Bill, which seeks to establish standing departments within the National Assembly that provide year round “policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation.”

Additionally, as Nigeria currently loses billions of dollars because of the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in previous legislative sessions, the National Assembly is working on the institutional restructuring of the NNPC as a substitute for the PIB. 

With e-Commerce fast becoming a major medium for transacting business in Nigeria, the Senate is also looking into the future to ensure that adequate regulations govern the e-commerce space, and protect the rights of businesses and consumers. 

A few days after the Senate resumed from the holiday, the Senate President  called for the need for Nigeria to diversify its economy. In line with this, the Senate has several bills aimed at providing frameworks for internal economic development for the nation. Several of these include: the Market Competition Bill; the Credit Bureau and Referencing Bill; the Agricultural Credit and Loan Scheme Bill; the Tax and Revenue Bill; and the National Poverty Eradication Commission (Establishment) Bill.
Other bills aimed at improving our transport networks and maintenance culture include the Private Sector Infrastructure Investment Protection and Regulation Bill; the Road Sector Reform Bill; the Railway Sector Reform Bill; and the Ports and Habour Reforms Bill.

 
Without any illusion, the above bills represent a new template set by the 8th Senate for a new and more-prosperous Nigeria. A set of legislation that would reform the legal framework for business in the country, stimulate employment, improve national productivity and encourage the private sector to participate in the reformation of the country.  
 
The bill to evaluate government performance is another credible legislation that is highly needed. According to Dr. Bukola Saraki: "The National Assembly, for the first time, is establishing a framework for agencies of government to set goals, measure performance and submit related plans and reports to the National Assembly for its potential use.”
 
The bills are all geared towards increasing the integrity of governance, expand performance rate and make government more open and accountable. Also in its context is the proposal to reform the security and judicial systems. 
 
Truly, “the National Poverty Eradication Commission Bill is an interesting intervention by the legislature in seeking to strengthen the policy by the executive arm on the welfare of Nigerians and the eradication of extreme poverty.”

Moreover, with the Senate President’s recent strides to amend the procurement act to ensure that Nigerian businesses get ‘first dibs’ over their foreign counterparts in the procurement process for agencies and departments of the federal government, Nigerian businesses are being positioned to drive the economic shift of the nation.
 
Hence, as the Senate works to bring many of these pieces of legislation into fruition, Nigerians must join hands with Senate and also charge all other arms of government to ensure that once they are passed by both houses of the National Assembly, these bills are signed into law, and implemented in order to move our dear country Nigeria forward.
 
Full list of the 30 Bills. 

1. Police Reform Bill
2. Justice Reform Bill
3. Criminal Procedure Law Amendment Bill
4. Whistle-blower Protection Bill
5. Budget Reform Bill
6. Ecological Funds Utilization and Management Bill
7. Excess Crude Account Management Bill.
8. Executive Bodies Independence Protection Law
9. National Assembly Budget  & Research Office Bill
10. The Institutional Restructuring of the NNPC Bill (in place of the PIB)
11. The E-Commerce Protection Law Bill
12. Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill
13. Market Competition Bill
14. Credit Bureau and Referencing Bill
15. Agricultural Credit and Loan Scheme Bill
16. Private Sector Infrastructure Investment Protection and Regulation Bill
17. The Road Sector Reform Bill.
18. The Railway Sector Reform Bill
19. Ports and Habour Reforms Bill
20. Regulatory Impact Assessment Bill
21. Climate Change Bill
22. Tax and Revenue Law/Bill
23. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
24. The Fertilizer Bill
25. The Government Performance and Result Act (GPRA)
26. The National Poverty Eradication Commission (Establishment) Bill.
27.  CAMA Amendment. Company and Allied Matters Act Amendment 
28.  Nosdra Bill
29.  Police commission  
30. Securities and Exchange Bill 


Bamikole Omishore is the Special Assistant on New Media to President of the Senate

Bukola Saraki: Ineffective Implementation Of Past Budgets Bane Of The Economy 


....As NASS Engages CSOs on the 2016 budget


Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Wednesday said that the ineffective implementation of past budgets and abandonment of projects have led to wastages that have negatively affected the nation's economy in the last 16 years.  


Saraki who stated this in his speech during the National Assembly's interactive session with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the 2016 budget in Abuja, said in response to the unacceptable trend, the 8th National Assembly has stepped up its oversight functions to ensure that funds are spent ‘how’, ‘where’ and on ‘what’ they were earmarked for. 


Furthermore, he noted that as economic diversification is crucial to the success of the nation's economy, the National Assembly is working to pass laws that will "boost internally generated revenues by plugging the loopholes that exist in our system, and encouraging the small and medium-scale business owners in our communities."

 

Saraki who commended the over 100 CSOs that participated in the interactive session, said: "We know that the work ahead of us is necessary. We also know that the road ahead of us will be lined with challenges. However, we also know that we cannot do this alone. We need all hands on deck for this one. 

 

"In this regard, in response to citizen’s concerns and public expectations, the 8th National Assembly through this platform and the various others that we have set up online,  will continue to be accessible to you. We will work tirelessly to address your concerns’ after all, we are only here because of you," he said.


According to the Senate President, the maiden interactive session between the National Assembly and CSOs on the 2016 budget was convened to allow both members of parliament and the CSOs to "explore new angles, consider fresh opinions and weigh new suggestions on the reasonable changes that need to be made, and on the best way to forge ahead with the 2016 appropriation process. 


"This is not only an opportunity for you to air your views, it is also a window that has presented itself that will allow all of us to work together to pass a budget that we can all be proud of.

 

"Therefore, I urge you all to feel free to point out your genuine concerns about the budget. Know that your relevant input is crucial towards ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Assembly to pass a document that we can all be proud of. 


"When the civil society of a nation is strong, loud and empowered - we are all better off for it. When the civil society is a part of the process - with seats of their own at the decision-making table - governments become more responsive and accountable," he said.

 

The Senate President also pledged that the observations and inputs on the 2016 budget made by the CSOs at the session would form part of the report of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Civil Society Organizations to the Senate Committee on Appropriation for onward submission to Senate in plenary.


He called on the CSOs and Nigerians to continue to support the National Assembly, as it strives to "acquire and execute critical and suitable programs that are highly beneficial to every citizen of this nation. 


"These sessions might be baby steps to some, but know that little steps are the beginnings of greater outcomes that lead to the positive change that Nigerians voted for at the polls," he said.


Earlier in her address, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and Civil Society Organizations, Senator Rose Oko, urged the CSOs to work with the National Assembly to ensure that there is citizen's participation in the 2016 Appropriation Bill.


"Through your capacities of reach, advocacy and data collection, your contribution to this document (2016 budget) will not only enhance our mandate of appropriation for government, but also to ensure that there is citizen participation in the decision making process of government at this crucial level," Senator Oko stated.


Over 300 participants representing different CSOs and NGOs attended the session. Some of the CSOs that participated in the interactive session include: PLAC, CENCOJ, BudgIT, HOMEF, ActionAid, CODE, EiE Nigeria, FEPAR, BMGF, NNNGO, Oxfam, ONE Campaign, OSIWA, YIAGA, NDI, CSR in Action, among others.

The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday, 8th February 2016, addressed the 'Made in Aba' Trade Fair. In his remarks, Saraki promised that the National Assembly would work on amending the Procurement Act by changing the word "may" to "shall" to ensure that Nigerian products are given first priority over their foreign counterparts in the procurement process.

Watch the Video by following this Link:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdQJbjuQD08


Please kindly share to encourage Nigerian Manufacturers

CBN Restriction Of Forex On Imported Goods Has Come To Stay- Bukola Saraki

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has ruled out the possibility of reversing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy excluding some imported goods and services from the list of items valid for forex in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market.

Saraki, while responding to a request by the Tomato Sub-Sectoral Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), seeking his intervention to lift the exemption by the CBN on certain imported goods, said based on the present economic realities, difficult decisions are necessary be taken to overcome the challenges.

The Senate President, who addressed the tomato paste producers when they paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, said: "It is high time we start telling ourselves the home truth as a nation, we are where we are because of our refusal to take hard decisions.

"As a country, we have to chart a new way different from the past, and that path is going into manufacturing as we cannot continue to remain an import dependent country," he said.

While challenging the tomato paste producers to focus more on how to be full fledged manufacturers of the product using local raw materials, Saraki expressed surprise that in spite of the high level of local cultivation of tomatoes, the producers were still importing the Triple Concentrate used in the production of tomato paste, which he said  can be produced locally by raising the production level of tomatoes in the country.

"What stops us from producing the tomato to the level of achieving the High Concentrate? You have to be serious in the area of massive investment and research in the sector for government to consider any concession for you," Saraki said.

Earlier, the leader of the group, Mr. Femi Gbadegun said though they were not against the CBN's policy restricting forex to some imported items but that they needed time to raise the level of tomato production in the country to eliminate the need for importation.

Gbadegun lamented that the policy had adversely affected the operations of the members of the association.

Subject: Why We Need to Amend Procurement Law, Says Saraki


Why We Need to Amend Procurement Law, Says Saraki

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has said that as a way of realising the objectives of the 2016 Budget, the Senate will immediately after the completion of the on-going process of passage of the Appropriation Bill, commence the amendment of the Procurement Act.

Saraki while addressing the organizers of the Made in Aba Trade Fair who visited him in his office said certain sections of the Act need to be reviewed to ensure that the scarce resources which are available from the budget are well utilized.

He said the Act will be amended to ensure that Made in Nigeria goods are patronized and that government agencies only resort to imported goods when there are no local alternatives. He also said areas of the law dealing with advance payment for government procurement should be scrutinized.

The Senate President said the 8th Senate under his leadership is in support of the protection of local industries through appropriate legislations, patronage and direct intervention.

"This is the only way we can create jobs, solve the problem of unemployment and stop the growing army of aggrieved youths who pose danger to society. We can do it. We have the population which translates to a huge ready market. This is how we van genuinely help our people.

"The chairmen of our relevant committees  are being put on notice to ensure that they focus their oversight on these areas. We must make sure that government agencies like the Armed Forces can patronize the shoe making industries in Aba and other places", he said.

He however urged local industries to increase the quality of their products and make their prices competitive. Saraki also thanked Senator Enyinanya Abaribe who led the delegation to his office for his consistency in promoting goods made in Aba over the years.

"Senator Abaribe has done so much in promoting Made in Aba goods. In fact, it is his constituency project and he has invested so much time and money on it, even before the decline in oil price. This is import substitution and I assure you of the support of the Senate in this endeavour", he said.

Abaribe in his speech said the promoters of Made in Aba goods will want Section 34 sub sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Procurement Act amended so that government agencies will be required to buy local goods and can only resort to imported goods after getting certification from the Bureau of Public Procurement stating that there is no local alternative.

He urged the Senate President to help Aba based manufacturers get the much needed government recognition and encouragement. The group also invited Saraki to attend the trade fair holding in Abuja from February 9.

Senate President Reacts to Supreme Court Ruling

After listening to the ruling of the Supreme Court in the appeal he filed to challenge the process of arraigning him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki hereby states as follows :

1. He expresses disappointment over the Judgment of the apex court in the country on the six grounds of his appeal


2.  He however will like to put it on record that the facts of the substantial matter are not before the Supreme Court since the apex court was only invited to rule on some preliminary issues in the process of commencing the trial.

3. The Senate President believes he will have his day in the court to prove his innocence of the charges preferred against him during the trial proper.

4. Dr. Saraki will like to thank everyone who has expressed support for him from the beginning of the case. He assures everyone that at the end of the day truth will prevail and justice will be served.

Signed

Yusuph Olaniyonu


https://mobile.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10153997195744962&id=53942489961

Senate Meets with Service Chiefs to Review North-east Zone Operations

The leadership of the Senate and chairmen of committees relating to security agencies yesterday( Wednesday) held a meeting with heads of the military to review the developments in the fight against insurgency in the North east zone, particularly in the wake of the recent vicious attack on Dalori town in Borno State.

At the closed door meeting which lasted for about two hours and presided by Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, several issues tailored at further empowering the security agencies to win the war against the Boko Haram insurgency were discussed in a frank and open exchange between the two sides.

The Military chiefs led by General Abayomi Olonishakin, the Chief of Defence Staff, briefed the Senators on the various challenges faced by the military, particularly the state of their equipment which they said require serious upgrading and restocking.

They also complained that their vote in the 2015 supplementary budget has not been released thereby hampering their ability to fund their operations. Other issues that came up for discussion was the need to continuously increase the personnel in the three branches of the military and the hindrance posed by the procurement process which they said is very slow.

The military chiefs also canvassed the need for the review of some laws governing their operations so as to make them able to respond to emergency situations they now confront in the North-east zones as well as conform with global best practices.

The need for regional support for the fight against insurgency in the North-east by the neighbouring countries, resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their traditional homes, the issue of intelligence gathering and sharing among the various agencies and mobilisation of the international community, particularly through inter-parliamentary efforts in support of the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, were also discussed.

The Senators assured the military chiefs that they will fast track the request for the review of the relevant laws being complained about by putting them on the Priority Bills list once they were given adequate information on areas that need to be amended.

They also promised to take up the issue of release of funds raised by the military chiefs with the Ministry of Finance immediately. The committees on Defence, finance and appropriations have also been mandated to ensure that the issues raised by the service chiefs are taken care of in the budget.

The Senators noted that at this point when the nation had recorded serious gains in the fight against insurgency, all hands should be on deck to sustain the tempo against the violent groups.

The meeting was attended by Saraki, his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, Majority Whip, Francis Alimikhena, Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Isa Hama Misau and his colleague in the Committee on Air Force, Duro Faseyi. However, Chairman of Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Ahmed Lawan was absent. 

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olonishakin led the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, his colleague in the navy, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas and the Air Force, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar to the meeting.

End

I Never Referred to Obasanjo in My Chat with Senate Correspondents- Bukola Saraki

The Media Office of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has described a report in which he was said to have replied President Olusegun Obasanjo while speaking to journalists after the presentation of the newly remodeled and refurbished Senate Press Centre as mere mischief, misrepresentation and undue sensationalism.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that during the presentation of the press centre, he was asked only two questions, both of which centered  on the 2016 budget. One was on how realistic the budget proposal under consideration is, in view of dwindling oil price and the other on whether the details of the Senate Budget will be made open, particularly in view of the letter by President Obasanjo.

"The Senate President's answer on the first question was that the success of the 2016 will depend less on oil price but more on the non-oil and independent revenue and that that is why the Senate will lay emphasis on  the scrutiny of these areas as well as ensure that leakages are blocked so that the budget can be realized without any hitch.

"On the second question, he reiterated his earlier position that the Senate budget will no longer be a one-line item. He said details of the budget of the National Assembly will be provided for all to see what goes to what budget head. He urged all Nigerians to realize that mistakes have been made by all stakeholders in the past and that we should all move forward by ensuring those mistakes are not repeated.

"In fact his position that mistakes have been made by all of us in the past was a reference to all stakeholders like political office holders, the media, civil society, professional and business groups, among others.

" Dr. Saraki will like to maintain his earlier position that he will only write a formal letter to President Obasanjo to explain all the efforts the Eight Senate is making to address some of the issues the former President raised in his letter to him. The Senate President will not use any public event or the media to give any direct or indirect response to the legitimate points raised by the elder statesman and father of the nation.

" The Senate President further urged the media to refrain from sensationalism which leads to twisting and misrepresentation of the position of public officers and therefore further create unnecessary tension in the polity. The urge to sell newspapers should not override the need for ethical standard and accuracy in presentation of news to be maintained. The media should equally be sensitive to other people's feelings", he stated.

Saraki replies Obasanjo, says Senate committed to transparency
January 28, 2016Hassan Adebayo

Bukola Saraki, Senate President, Nigeria
The senate president, Bukola Saraki, has reacted to a letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to Mr. Saraki and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in which Mr. Obasanjo accused the National Assembly of corruption, greed, impunity and lawlessness.
Mr. Obasanjo’s letter, published exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, said most members of the 469-member National Assembly were receiving constituency allowances without maintaining constituency offices as the law requires of them.
The former leader said he was distressed by the massive corruption and lawlessness at the National Assembly and other arms and tiers of government.
In Mr. Saraki’s statement, obtained from his media office on Thursday, the senate president assured that the Senate under his leadership was committed to good governance, transparency, accountability, due process and responsiveness to the economic reality of our nation.
“It is for this reason that the legislative chamber has introduced bold and progressive reforms in the management of the finances of the National Assembly,” he said.
He also said he was canvassing making the National Assembly budget open to the public.
The full statement:


Yesterday, I acknowledged that I received a letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he called the attention of the National Assembly to some issues.
I will want to assure President Obasanjo that the leadership and membership of the 8th Senate are committed to good governance, transparency, accountability, due process and responsiveness to the economic reality of our nation. It is for this reason that the legislative chamber has introduced bold and progressive reforms in the management of the finances of the National Assembly.
This is of even greater importance during a tough fiscal period for our country. Like I said during my closing address at the plenary after our debate on the 2016 Budget, the Senate must lead by example in terms of our own funding, budgets and accountability – showing, beyond doubt, value for money. I have canvassed that we must lay bare the budget of the Senate, nay the National Assembly and its affiliated institutions.
I equally canvassed the need to strengthen the capacity of the legislative institution to carry our effective oversight of the executive arm so that we can ensure the budget leads to the realization of the policy objectives of the Buhari Administration. Again, let me reiterate my position in the speech I made this morning on the need for us to work towards blocking all areas of revenue leakages while also strengthening the anti-corruption agencies so that the little resources that are now available will serve the interest of the overwhelming majority.
As a former president and a father of the nation that we all hold in high esteem, I intend to reply the letter and outline the actions the Senate is taking to address his concerns.
In conclusion, I appreciate President Obasanjo for his consistent role in always reminding those of us in government about our responsibilities to the general public and offering timely advice where necessary.
Signed
Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki

Senate President, @BukolaSaraki's Response To Former President Obasanjo

Yesterday, I acknowledged that i received a letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he called the attention of the National Assembly to some issues.

I will want to assure President Obasanjo that the leadership and membership of the 8th Senate are committed to good governance, transparency, accountability, due process and responsiveness to the economic reality of our nation. It is for this reason that the legislative chamber has introduced bold and progressive reforms in the management of the finances of the National Assembly.

This is of even greater importance during a tough fiscal period for our country. Like i said during my closing address at the plenary after our debate on the 2016 Budget, the Senate must lead by example in terms of our own funding, budgets and accountability – showing, beyond doubt, value for money. I have canvassed that we must lay bare the budget of the Senate, nay the National Assembly and its affiliated institutions.

I equally canvassed the need to strengthen the capacity of the legislative institution to carry our effective oversight of the executive arm so that we can ensure the budget leads to the realization of the policy objectives of the Buhari Administration. Again, let me reiterate my position in the speech i made this morning on the need for us to work towards blocking all areas of revenue leakages while also strengthening the anti-corruption agencies so that the little resources that are now available will serve the interest of the overwhelming majority.

As a former President and a father of the nation that we all hold in high esteem , i intend to reply the letter and outline the actions the Senate is taking to address his concerns.

In conclusion, I appreciate President Obasanjo for his consistent role in always reminding those of us in government about our responsibilities to the general public and offering timely advise where necessary.

Signed

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki

Distinguished colleagues,

 

Let me congratulate congratulate you all for the painstaking insightful and detailed deliberation we have had so far. The debate has been very critical and engaging. 

 

From both sides of the isle, I have watched and seen for myself an exceptional commitment towards the Nigeria project. The debate over the 2016 budget has been civil, apolitical and laced with the desire to deliver this budget. Again, both sides of the isle have described this budget as courageous and unique. I heard many used the word, 'Uncommon' describing the budget as a clear departure from the past. I totally agree with your position. 

 

One, in the area of revenue where for the first time we are talking about 77% of our revenue will not depend on oil. Oil only accounts for 23%. This to me, and to all of us, is the most important area of this budget. It will be a great foundation not only for today but for the future, if this can be achieved.

 

Also in the area of capital which is about 30%, (which is a first in over 5years) deserves our commendation. This has been a benchmark that has looked seemingly impossible to achieve in the past. Yes a lot of comments have been made over the level of borrowing that may occur as a result, I think in general summary, it must be acknowledged for many things; the borrowing is targeted at only capital projects and could provide the necessary fillip to stimulate the economy fro growth. Even as of now, as a percentage of GDP, we are still within the limits and parameters. But what is important is that the National Assembly would ensure that all appropriated money is judiciously used for what it is appropriated for. 

 

In the area of diversification, a lot of observations were made for the fact that the area of agriculture and minerals did not reflect - the message of diversification did not reflect in the numbers that were allocated to those particular sectors. Those are the areas that we should look into. The observation on equitable distribution was also highly well noted. This is also an area we take note when we go into our deliberations.

 

Distinguished colleagues, you would recall that on the issue of benchmark, a lot of people have justifiably raised their concern. Last week, the direction of oil price had moved downwards but as we can see, as at yesterday we see that the price has picked up again to above $30. So, the message there we have to make our decision both on the immediate, short and long term before we decide based on daily effects to the local benchmark.

 

 

Distinguished colleagues, one issue that we cannot play game is blocking leakages and cutting out wastages. It is important to note that the issue of blocking leakages is key and for the experience of the past, we must learn for the future and if we don't talk about the future there is no way to talk about the present. 

 

Another issue is the issue of the war against corruption. We are hand in glove with the president on this matter this is why we are going to be overhauling our oversight systems to make them more effective in exposing corruption. We recognize the hard work that our anticorruption agencies. This Senate must support them adequately to do their duty effectively by providing them with adequate funding. I am sure the relevant committee will look at that.

 

Distinguished colleague, Mr. President has played his own role, it is now the time for us to play our own role. Sub-Committee on Appropriation, I hope we will all take note of all the observations that have been made and highlighted.

 

Key areas, for the Committee, particularly, the Committee on Finance and Petroleum, is the estimate. Very key that we get this right because if we don't get this right, there is a likelihood of we archiving what will not work. So, I like these committees to particularly be very ready to critically scrutinize this revenue estimate that we can all put our name too and ensure that every item and every objective it has been designed to achieve have been fully captured.

 

On our parts, we will ensure that starting from tomorrow, the sub-committee will start to meet with MDGs and start to present defence on the budget. The submission of the reports that we need for those two weeks from February 12 to February 18, we will want those reports to be before the Appropriation Committee. 

 

Distinguished colleagues, as we scrutinize the other budget from different ministries, as part of also leading by example, also the budget on our side, first time we have made commitment about it to be open about it and to know what of going to the Senate, to the management and to the different parts on the National Assembly, it is important also that we can see there will be much over sight functions for this budget to be effective. So, when we are doing the National Assembly budget, we must take this into note that we must empower our Committees to be able to do proper oversight and also it is clear that our own laws that exist now also need review in order to be in line with the new direction of prudence and efficiency. Again, that is going to be mean a lots of work to our committees. So, our committee on Services should address this issue in the budget. 

 

Now, to let me categorically make it clear as we have said and all agreed, there is no room for money for budgeting in the process. Any allegation of such will be thoroughly investigate by Ethic Committee and such allegations where proven will be met with severe sanctions. We will ensure that where it involves an agency of government, we will play our own role, we will report it to the executive and ensure that they take appropriate action in this area. We must ensure that the integrity of this institution will continue to sustained and not tarnished by anyone.

 

On this note, distinguished colleagues, I thank you all for your contributions and I hope that we have made the commitment as we agreed to pass this 2016 appropriation bill in record time. I will direct that the Appropriation Committee should target February 24th, 2016 to be able to submit their report. 

 

On this closing remark, I will like put the question that those in Favour that this 

 

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Senate President @BukolaSaraki comments on the 2016 Appropriation Bill today at the @NGRSenate Plenary:

On Oil:
“For the first time in the history of our great nation, 77% of our expected revenue is non-oil based. This represents a great foundation for the future.”

On Borrowing:
“In general summary, we were all leaning towards the fact that it is not the amount that we borrow that matters, but the projects that the money is used for. Right now – as a percentage of GDP – we are still within the limits and parameters of fiscal responsibility.”

On Economic Diversification:
“A lot of Senators raised observations on the fact that in the allocations to the agricultural and mineral resources sectors, the message of economic diversification was not particularly reflected. Those are the areas that we should look into.”

On Wastage:
"Based on our experiences in the past, we have talked about not playing the blame game. However, the issue of blocking all loopholes and leakages is key. Hence, we must pay attention to the present, to address the potential for leakages in the future.”

On the Role of the Legislature:
"The Executive has played its role; it is time that we as the legislature do our part.”

On Revenue Benchmarks:
"The issue of revenue estimates must be gotten right particularly by the Finance and Petroleum Committees. The committees must particularly scrutinize this budget so that at the end of the day we can all be proud of it.”

On Zero-Based Budgeting:
"The Zero Budgeting means that projects will be critically assessed to go across all zones."

On Legislative Malpractice in the Budgeting Process:
"Let me make this categorically clear: there will be no room for money-for-budget in the 2016 appropriations process as sanctions will be taken. We will ensure to report all inconsistencies to the relevant agencies of the executive branch."

Saraki Intervenes in NULGE, NUT Dispute With Kwara Govt

President of the Senate, Senator Abubakar  Bukola Saraki at the weekend in Ilorin,  met with the leadership of Labour Unions in Kwara State on the need to resolve the on-going teacher’s strike in the state.

Senator Saraki during the meeting appealed to leaders of the Labour Unions to call off their strike and return to work in the interest of students, pupils and the people of the state in general.



He told them that primary education is the foundation of children and all hands must be on deck to ensure it is not jeopardised.

Saraki further urged the leadership of  the workers’ union to cooperate with the state government in the efforts to amicably resolve all pending issues on which both sides disagree.
  PPN Presidential Candidate Steps Down For Jonathan
The Senate President also expressed his appreciation to the labour leaders and traditional rulers for their promise to co-operate with the state government in carrying out a comprehensive biometric exercise that will aid adequate planning in the future.

Saraki also praised the royal fathers for their timely intervention aimed at resolving the dispute between the state government and the workers while also commending those present at the meeting for honouring his invitation at short notice.

In their response,  the labour leaders appreciated  Saraki’s style of leadership, his commitment to their welfare and the decision to intervene on their dispute  with the state government.
The labour Unions also promised to quickly resolve the issues on which they disagreed  with the state government and resume work as the government has promised to pay part of the salary arrears owed the teachers.

The labour leaders also promised to ensure that normalcy is restored in the primary education sector in the state‎. They noted that the meeting with the Senate President was not only timely but useful in creating amicable working relationship between the state government and its workers

Saraki Tasks PCC On Effective Service Delivery

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called on the leadership of the  Public Complaints Commission (PCC) to be more alive to their responsibilities so as to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the Public Service.

Saraki who gave the charge when the Chairman of PCC, Chief Emmanuel Ogbile led other National Commissioners and Directors of the agency on a courtesy visit to the Senate in Abuja said the PCC should be restructured in order to be true watchdog on behalf of the people concerning the work and services of public servants.

He also urged the Commission to through their work dispel widespread notions that public servants are no more committed to rendering services to the people but only occupy public offices for selfish ends.

Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu in Abuja said: "Truly you are really the watchdog of Nigerians to ensure that the public service delivers for Nigerians. If you are performing, then, Nigerians should be satisfied with the public service or have confidence that there is a commission they can go to be able to report what they are not satisfied with.

"In most developed countries this kind of agency plays a very key role in the lives of the people and for those in public service the fear of the Public Complaints Commission is the beginning of wisdom and people will be able to perform and deliver.

"And generally we would have seen satisfaction on both sides because one of the major concerns in our country today, is that people believe that those in public service really have no commitment or obligation to serve Nigerians.

"They believe they are there to serve themselves and if you play your role, whoever finds himself in any of the utility agencies will know that he has a responsibility to Nigerians," he said.

The Senate President also called on the Commission to submit any aspect of their Establishment Act hindering their effectiveness for review by the National Assembly.

He said: "You must have the capacity to carry out your roles. Therefore, if there are parts of the law that will also strengthen you because you must have the capacity not only to bark but to bite. If you don't have capacity to bite no matter how much publicity or public fora you organize, people will not take you seriously.

"But if you have the capacity to both bark and bite, it will be the beginning of your delivering on your mandate. Again, some of the things we want to change in our society is this kind of issue when we talk about governance and accountability - governance and accountability starts from the approach and services of the public servants, so I am very prepared to support you," he stated.

Earlier, the Chairman of the PCC, Chief Emmanuel Ogbile said following the charge of the Senate President during the Commission's visit last year, the Commission has commenced restructuring of the agency to make it more focussed on its mandate of investigation and speedy resolution complaints submitted to it by Nigerians. 

Ogbile said: "One of such issues is that the Commission is not known. The Commission is not appreciated. The Commission is not trusted. It is not delivering to Nigerians. And recalling that you put us on the line, we have done a number of things aimed at repositions the Commission to deliver on its mandate to Nigerians."

END

Unemployment: Saraki Urges Unilever To Increase Investment In Nigeria
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday urged the Unilever Group to increase their investment in Nigeria with the aim of providing more employment opportunities in the country.
Saraki while receiving the management of the Unilever Group, led by its President in charge of Africa, Mr. Bruno Witvoet in his office, also urged the conglomerate to source more of their raw materials, especially agricultural produce like palm oil, from the country in order to provide the much needed empowerment for local farmers.
The Senate President however assured the group that the present administration is serious about its policy on diversification of the economy, while the National Assembly is also reviewing some extant laws to make the country a business-friendly destination.
Saraki said: "The message I would like you to leave with is that the policies of the present government is to support businesses like yours in looking towards diversification. We have got to a point as a country that it is clear to us that we can't continue to sustain a mono-product economy and we are clear about that.
"What we are trying to do as much as possible is to see how we can diversify and increase the supply side for import substitution and the demand is huge. One of the concerns being raised is whether these policies are going to be consistent. And I say, yes, It will.
"One of the things we are trying to do as a National Assembly is also to give our support to ensure that some of these policies are consistent so we don't see flip-flop in policies and also to provide all the incentives that are required to ensure that you will be encouraged to make these kinds of investments.
The Senate President said: "For example, in the area of cassava and palm oil - these are investments that I believe are necessary and we are not going to see them happen unless there are investors like yourself that have the muscles to do that and give support to farmers.
"I believe that if we can produce cassava for your industry then we can support the farmers and I think that is the way we want to go now," he said.
According to the Senate President, both the executive and the legislature are determined to provide the needed political will that will boost investors' confidence in the country.
He said: "The important thing is that we have to come to the table to discuss what incentives you require to be able to have the confidence to make those investments and also the confidence to make those investments in the area of agriculture.
"I want to assure you that definitely this is a pro-business legislative arm and that we are very keen to see you come to take that lead. We are determined to diversify and reduce our import loads as much as possible," he said.
President of Unilever Group (Africa), Mr. Bruno Witvoet, in his response said the organization is ready to double the size of its investments in the country especially in the area of agriculture.
He said that Unilever, despite being a legal entity, is basically a Nigerian company with a big part of its capital listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos, which he said is not the case in many other countries.
Witvoet said: "I think especially in agriculture, you have a fantastic opportunity in Nigeria for sure. I think we can help you in your agenda like we have done for Kenya and Uganda.
"The last point is doubling the size of our business and that means that we have to consume more raw materials from the country. So there is a direct link here when we talk about providing employment - maybe in a big factory you may think about 2000 workers but in a tea or cassava plantation you can have more than 20,000 workers," he said.
Signed:
Sanni Onogu
Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President

PRESS STATEMENT: 2016 APPROPRIATION BILL

LET US GO TO BACK TO OPERATION LOW PROFILE

Today, I once again stood before the Nigerian People to speak on the general principles and merits of the estimates of the 2016 Appropriation Bill brought by President Muhammadu Buhari before the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly.

I did not mince words in saying that the 8thNational Assembly has given itself too short a time to do justice to the 2016 Appropriation Bill, unlike congressional practice in the US which has Budget submitted to the congress 8 Months before the approval.

There should be a Law that mandates the current and future Nigerian Presidents to submit the annual budgets at a timely and appropriate period. I further pointed out that the N115Billion allocated to National Assembly representing only 1.8% of the whole budget of N6.08Trillion will not be shared by Senators & Honourables but includes the expansive staff strength of the National Assembly which are as large as that of any government ministry.

This also includes resources to National Assembly Staff Commission NASC and the National Institute of Legislative Studies NILS. It is therefore unfair to portray the impression that it is because of the profligacy of the National Assembly that Nigeria has economic challenges. It is rather due to the profligacy of the entire nation.

The United States has up to three research departments that independently conduct researches on Budget with the Congressional Budget Office being the most respected. This is what we hope to achieve in the 8th assembly with the National Assembly Budget and Research Office NABRO.

In furtherance, I pointed out that about 54% of the Annual Budget of the US comes from tax, suggesting that we must expand our tax system as a Nation. If we want to move this country forward, we must begin to tax cigarettes and alcohol; we must begin to tax allowances and the parking tolls in our airports must be per hour.

In conclusion, as a Country we must sit down to decide our areas of priority. We cannot keep on fighting ourselves for increased allocation to different sectors of the economy without a goal. I believe we must focus on Education as the 6 – 7% we are budgeting for Education is not enough. There is no greater infrastructure in any country than the minds of the young ones. We must equally reduce the cost of governance as a nation. We must jettison the use of extravagant cars by Judges, Senators & Ministers and follow the likes of Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo in going back to 'Operation Low Profile' of using Peugeot 504 Cars.

May God Bless Nigeria.

 

 

Senator (Professor) Olusola Adeyeye

Chief Whip, Nigerian Senate.

Thursday 21st January, 2016

Late Olubadan Was A Courageous Monarch, Says Saraki

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Wednesday expressed sadness over the news of the passing on of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, said the late Olubadan was a great and courageous monarch who fought valiantly to preserve the dignity of the Ibadan traditional stool and by extension the nation’s traditional institution.

He described the late traditional ruler as a highly accomplished parliamentarian, frontline politician and a statesman who was a member of the Federal House of Representatives in the First Republic and remained till his death a role model for current members of the parliament at state and federal levels.

The late Olubadan, the Senate President stated, was a personality who became an inspiration to the entire Yoruba nation in particular and the country in general.

Saraki said: “Looking at the life and times of the late Olubadan, I cannot but hold my breath considering his achievements. This was a man who started as a Clerk, became a Teacher, Soldier, Politician, Educationist, Parliamentarian, Philanthropist and first class traditional ruler in a span of about 100 years. I will simply say he lived a worthy and exemplary life. His was a true life story of grass to grace. This I believe would remain a great source of  inspiration to all of us and the upcoming generation.”

He commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the nation’s traditional institutions, the government and people of Oyo State and the entire Yorubaland; and prayed God to grant the soul of the late monarch sweet repose.

He urged the family of the late Monarch and all those in grief over the death to take solace in the fact that the late Olubadan lived life to the full and made positive impact on all those who met or were close to him during his life time.

Signed:

Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Senate President

"No Two Versions Of 2016 Budget," PMB Tells NASS

Sends Corrected Version to Nass


President Muhammadu Buhari has informed the National Assembly that there are no two versions of the 2016 Budget, and that the version he presented to its joint sitting on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, remains the authentic document.

He also affirmed that there is no plan to withdraw or substitute the Money Bill as being insinuated.

The president made these declarations in separate letters he wrote to the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly, copies of which were sighted by LEADERSHIP yesterday.

In the letter dated Friday, January 15, 2016, Buhari also explained that at the time he summited the draft Bill, accompanied by a schedule of details, the National Assembly was duly informed that the budget details had just been produced then and that the Executive would have to cross-check it to ensure that there are no errors in the detailed breakdown contained in the schedule.

According to him, the verification had been completed and the corrections had been subsequently submitted to the National Assembly, a development, he said, gave rise to the suspicion of the existence of different versions of the budget and the attendant confusion.

The president’s four-paragraph letter, whose content is to be revealed to lawmakers today at both the Senate and House of Representatives’ plenaries, is attached with the corrected version of the budget details, hence the National Assembly is expected to immediately begin work on the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

The presidential communication reads in part: “The National Assembly would therefore have the details as submitted on the 22nd and a copy containing the corrections submitted last week. It appears that this has led to some confusion.

“In this regard, please find attached the corrected version. This is the version the National Assembly should work with as my 2016 budget estimates. The draft Bill remains the same and there are no changes in any of the figures.”

This latest revelation by the president may have helped to dispel claims by the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, that the senior special assistant to the president on NASS Matters (Senate), Senator Its Enang, had attempted to smuggle a different version of the budget into the National Assembly other than the one presented by the president.

 

Senate to conclude, pass 2016 budget by February

The Senate said yesterday that it would ensure that consideration of the 2016 budget presented to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on December last year would be concluded and passed before the end of next month.

Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, who made the position known, said senators had planned to pass the budget on record time, but blamed the delay on recent misgivings about the alleged missing budget, even as he described the budget as failing integrity test.

“We are targeting end of February to round off everything about the 2016 national budget. If not for the talk about the missing budget, we would have gone far. But we are still determined to pass the budget on time and that will be before the end of February,” he said.

Briefing Senate correspondents at the National Assembly Complex, Ndume also hinted that the Senate will today quiz the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, over the persistent free fall of naira against major international currencies.

He also dismissed the call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Senate as a big joke.

On the CBN governor, Ndume explained that the Senate’s decision to invite Emefiele for questioning became necessary because the lawmakers needed to be properly briefed on the next line of action.

He said, “The CBN governor is coming tomorrow (today). I raised a point of order because there is the need for the National Assembly to ask questions about the skyrocketing price of dollar in the black market. The difference between the official exchange rate and that of the black market is too high. We need to ask questions so that we can report back to the common man. It has never been this bad.

“This is my personal opinion. The Bureau De Change (BDC) is now a big employment avenue. If you shut it down, there will be a problem. At the same time, you should not open the windows for people to abuse the process,” he said.

The Senate leader, who also maintained his earlier stance that the 2016 budget was not missing, said the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions was only mandated to carry out an integrity test on the two copies of the budget before the Red Chamber.

He said: “Not only that the budget was not missing; the budget cannot be missing. The budget comes in copies. The copy submitted by Mr. President cannot be missing. There are some issues that came later surrounding the budget.

“We told the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to find out what happened and they discovered that there were two versions. What the president submitted as a bill is still there. Nothing has changed.”

On the call by the PDP for the National Assembly to commence an impeachment process against President Buhari following his alleged involvement in the budget crisis, Ndume described it as a huge joke and insisted that Buhari remained the kind of president the country needed at the moment.

He said, “The PDP calling for the impeachment of Buhari is a big joke. Did we kill the PDP for what they did to us in the last 16 years? The call for the impeachment of the president by the PDP is what they are supposed to do. They are in the opposition.

“Buhari is the kind of leader the country wants. His emergence is a divine intervention. We were in the opposition and I understand. The game the PDP is playing is understandable. The budget is not missing.”

"No Two Versions Of 2016 Budget," PMB Tells NASS

Sends Corrected Version to Nass


President Muhammadu Buhari has informed the National Assembly that there are no two versions of the 2016 Budget, and that the version he presented to its joint sitting on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, remains the authentic document.

He also affirmed that there is no plan to withdraw or substitute the Money Bill as being insinuated.

The president made these declarations in separate letters he wrote to the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly, copies of which were sighted by LEADERSHIP yesterday.

In the letter dated Friday, January 15, 2016, Buhari also explained that at the time he summited the draft Bill, accompanied by a schedule of details, the National Assembly was duly informed that the budget details had just been produced then and that the Executive would have to cross-check it to ensure that there are no errors in the detailed breakdown contained in the schedule.

According to him, the verification had been completed and the corrections had been subsequently submitted to the National Assembly, a development, he said, gave rise to the suspicion of the existence of different versions of the budget and the attendant confusion.

The president’s four-paragraph letter, whose content is to be revealed to lawmakers today at both the Senate and House of Representatives’ plenaries, is attached with the corrected version of the budget details, hence the National Assembly is expected to immediately begin work on the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

The presidential communication reads in part: “The National Assembly would therefore have the details as submitted on the 22nd and a copy containing the corrections submitted last week. It appears that this has led to some confusion.

“In this regard, please find attached the corrected version. This is the version the National Assembly should work with as my 2016 budget estimates. The draft Bill remains the same and there are no changes in any of the figures.”

This latest revelation by the president may have helped to dispel claims by the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, that the senior special assistant to the president on NASS Matters (Senate), Senator Its Enang, had attempted to smuggle a different version of the budget into the National Assembly other than the one presented by the president.

 

Senate to conclude, pass 2016 budget by February

The Senate said yesterday that it would ensure that consideration of the 2016 budget presented to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on December last year would be concluded and passed before the end of next month.

Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume, who made the position known, said senators had planned to pass the budget on record time, but blamed the delay on recent misgivings about the alleged missing budget, even as he described the budget as failing integrity test.

“We are targeting end of February to round off everything about the 2016 national budget. If not for the talk about the missing budget, we would have gone far. But we are still determined to pass the budget on time and that will be before the end of February,” he said.

Briefing Senate correspondents at the National Assembly Complex, Ndume also hinted that the Senate will today quiz the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, over the persistent free fall of naira against major international currencies.

He also dismissed the call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Senate as a big joke.

On the CBN governor, Ndume explained that the Senate’s decision to invite Emefiele for questioning became necessary because the lawmakers needed to be properly briefed on the next line of action.

He said, “The CBN governor is coming tomorrow (today). I raised a point of order because there is the need for the National Assembly to ask questions about the skyrocketing price of dollar in the black market. The difference between the official exchange rate and that of the black market is too high. We need to ask questions so that we can report back to the common man. It has never been this bad.

“This is my personal opinion. The Bureau De Change (BDC) is now a big employment avenue. If you shut it down, there will be a problem. At the same time, you should not open the windows for people to abuse the process,” he said.

The Senate leader, who also maintained his earlier stance that the 2016 budget was not missing, said the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions was only mandated to carry out an integrity test on the two copies of the budget before the Red Chamber.

He said: “Not only that the budget was not missing; the budget cannot be missing. The budget comes in copies. The copy submitted by Mr. President cannot be missing. There are some issues that came later surrounding the budget.

“We told the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to find out what happened and they discovered that there were two versions. What the president submitted as a bill is still there. Nothing has changed.”

On the call by the PDP for the National Assembly to commence an impeachment process against President Buhari following his alleged involvement in the budget crisis, Ndume described it as a huge joke and insisted that Buhari remained the kind of president the country needed at the moment.

He said, “The PDP calling for the impeachment of Buhari is a big joke. Did we kill the PDP for what they did to us in the last 16 years? The call for the impeachment of the president by the PDP is what they are supposed to do. They are in the opposition.

“Buhari is the kind of leader the country wants. His emergence is a divine intervention. We were in the opposition and I understand. The game the PDP is playing is understandable. The budget is not missing.”

 

We’ve Made Significant Progress In Ending Boko Haram Insurgency — PMB

President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday in Abu Dhabi that Nigeria has made very significant progress towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency since his assumption of office on May 29 last year.

This is contained in a statement issued by his special adviser on media, Femi Adesina.

Speaking at a meeting with the secretary-general of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, on the side lines of the World Future Energy Summit, President Buhari said that the Nigerian Armed Forces, in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force, had driven the terrorist group from Nigerian territory into “fall-back positions.”

“They are currently not holding any territory today as we speak,” the president told Mr Ban Ki Moon.

President Buhari also told the United Nations scribe that Nigeria would persistently pursue global actions to reverse the drying up of Lake Chad and save the lives of those who depend on it for survival.

“With all due respect to our neighbours, Nigeria has been the worst hit by the drying up of the Lake Chad and we are hoping that the global community will support the process of halting the drying up of the lake,” President Buhari said.

 

Ban Ki Moon Commends PMB On Anti-Corruption war

Meanwhile, Mr Ban Ki Moon has commended the president for his courage in fighting terrorism and corruption.

He said that Nigeria had made amazing progress against terrorism since President Buhari assumed office, while the President’s war against corruption had boosted global confidence in the Nigerian economy.

He urged President Buhari to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into Nigeria’s economic and environmental vision.

 

Oil Price Fall: FG Must Diversify Nigeria’s Economy – Gov Dickson

As the price of oil in the international market continues to dwindle, the governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has called on the federal government to diversify the nation’s economy, stating that global oil prices are in for more tumble after Iran said it was ready to add half a million barrels a day to crude exports after international sanctions were lifted.

Speaking during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Dickson stated that with Iran producing such volume and getting more fully involved in the oil trade again, there will be more glut in the oil market with the attendant reduction in the international price of crude oil which will directly have an impact on all Nigerians.

Highlighting the implications of the global market conditions and the surplus that exists with Iran’s readiness to raise its crude oil exports by 500,000 barrels a day, he said, ‘’The federal and state government might not be able to pay salaries again, including salaries of soldiers, law enforcement agents, the judiciary and other critical workers needed in the country, and you all know and hungry man is angry man.’’

On his recent electoral victory, he described it as a triumph of peoples will over might, adding that the election showed that Nigeria’s democracy was on track.

He, however, expressed surprise that the federal government and his opponent in the last gubernatorial election, Timipre Sylva, were yet to congratulate him.

‘’I expect a congratulatory message from Sylva and the APC-led federal government. We should be forming a national consensus to move Nigeria forward. This president took over the reins of authority in this country at a time that called for all hands to be on deck.

‘’I am surprised that in spite of all these challenges, people are more interested in battles, fight, instead of making friends and building a national consensus. But my view is (that) after election, you address problems of the country and state and move forward,’’ he stressed.

The governor alleged that while he and his team were strategizing on how to win the election, his contender was preparing for war.

He maintained that the election was basically a fight for the sustainability of the nation’s democracy.

On the state of the nation’s economy and insecurity, he said, ‘’I have always maintained that after elections, especially after the last presidential election, all governors, irrespective of the way we feel about the election, should work and support the president and the federal government on critical areas which include insecurity, the repositioning the nation’s economy and maintenance of law and order.

‘’I have always known that these times will be very trying, because we have seen a steady decline of our revenue for the past one and half years. I am surprised that the APC which was an opposition then did not see that coming. So I have made this call over and over.

‘’What I have seen is an insufficient attention by the federal team, which is the team around the president: they seem to have taken their eyes off the nation’s economy and security; they seem to be focusing more on political conquest and expansion of the authority of their party instead of focusing on the nation’s economy and national security challenges,’’ he noted.

He expressed the view that the president did not have honest advisers adding that the presidential team was not expansive and broad enough.

’I see a lot of unnecessary restriction and concern about political ego,’’ he said, adding that president took over the reins of authority in this country at a time that called for national consensus.

‘’All hands must be on deck. We should be forming a national consensus; take for example, more people have died in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents between when President Muhammadu Buhari took over till date than a relative period in the last administration.’’

He stated that contrary to the government’s public proclamation, the Boko Haram threat remains a serious challenge, even as he affirmed that the country’s gallant military was doing its best and urged Nigerians to support it.

He said: ‘’The national security team need to have their eyes on the national security, and when you tie that with the possibility of the consequences of the dwindling revenue in 2016 and the years ahead, the president team should not be spending on political conquest as they are doing, deploying national asset and resources in areas that are not necessary. What is necessary is that consensus is achieved on the economy.’’

LASSA FEVER: Maintain Clean Environment - Oduah

The Senator representing Anambra North senatorial district Princess Stella Oduah has called on Nigerians to cling to Caution against the fast spreading Lassa Fever.

She urged them to imbibe the culture of maintaining a clean environment to avoid further spread of the Lassa Fever as already reported in various states of the Federation.

"Maintaining a clean environment is key to avoiding the fast spreading Lassa haemorrhagic fever.

"Avoiding close contact and reporting suspected victims to the nearest Health Centre will also help ‎to curb it's further spread.

"It is important for us to key into the ongoing sensitization campaign by the Ministry of Health and eventually, the disease will become a thing of the past. She said

Oduah concluded by advising all Nigerians especially in Rural Areas to get rat killers and other chemicals to enable them get rid of the virus infected rodents.

Outbreak of this disease has been discovered in 11 states of the Federation ‎cutting across all geopolitical zones with over 35 deaths.

Signed

Veronica Abang
legislative Assistant to Senator Stella Oduah

@NGRSenate proposes 30 bills for 2016 – @BukolaSaraki
The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Monday announced 30 bills for the 2016 legislative year.
Bukola noted that the Senate has 30 bills of interest that will address governance, economic reform to fast track necessary changes.
According to him, the 30 bills to reform critical sectors of the country have been submitted by ‘my colleagues and now awaiting consideration and passage’.
“The 30 bills when passed would give backing to necessary re#forms in area of security, judiciary, anti-corruption, taxation and poverty eradication.
“They are meant to drastically change business environment and promote inclusive growth especially in agriculture & other non oil sector.
“Also we have National Assembly Budget & Research Office Bill as part of the ‪#‎30Bills‬ that will be debated.
“It is our beliefs in National Assembly that diversification can only happen if we provide the necessary regulatory and legislative framework.
“The 30 bills will encourage private sector participation in railways, road construction & other transport infrastructure to create jobs.
“The bills will establish a framework for agencies of government to set goals, measure performance and submit related plans and reports to NASS,” he said.
The Senate President also added that it is the National Assembly’s belief that diversification can only happen if we provide the necessary regulatory and legislative framework.
“As we await the debate of the 30 bills, I encourage Nigerians to follow closely so as to attend the public hearing or send in recommendations,” Bukola summed.