SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR (DR)
ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI (CON) ON THE 8TH
SENATE’S RESUMPTION OF PLENARY FROM THE 2017 ANNUAL RECESS ON TUESDAY, 26
SEPTEMBER, 2017.
PROTOCOL
1. Distinguished colleagues, it a
great pleasure to see you all back from our annual recess. In truth, it has
always been a special privilege to welcome you my colleagues into this chamber,
and today is no exception. I believe the recess afforded us, opportunity to
take stock on the journey so far, consult widely with our constituents and be
re-energized for the tasks ahead.
2. Let me also use this
opportunity to, on behalf of the entire Senate commiserate with our colleague
Senator Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu East), who recently lost his amiable wife, Lady
Ann Nnaji, after a brief illness. We pray that the good lord will grant her
eternal rest and you, our dear Senator Gilbert, the fortitude to bear this
irreparable loss.
3. Distinguished colleagues, we
have in the last two sessions of our term devoted enormous time, working hard
on critical legislation, some with historical essence and others with
relatively high-level implications for enhancing the welfare of our people and putting
food on their tables. I am happy to tell you that some of these bills which has
since become law have already started yielding expected gains. This is
especially so with the Secure Transactions in Movable Assets Act, with
increased lending to private sector. We expect more to come. Our ultimate aim
will be, inclusive growth, full employment for our people and frameworks that
enable our young people to run viable startups.
4. Distinguished colleagues, as a
firm believer that economic security is first and most important security we
can offer our people, it is the apparent inadequacy of this security that is at
the heart of the general disaffection of our people towards government. We have
done this with the belief that with less hunger on the street; with more of our
people gainfully engaged; insecurity will be significantly reduced and our
economy revamped. In this period, I expect us to conclude work on the National
Transport Commission Bill, and the National Road Funds Bill, the Petroleum
Industry Fiscal and Host Community Bill which are pending. It is my hope that
we shall conclude work quickly on the Bank lending rate reduction initiative
and the National Payment Systems Bill.
5. As we continue to take action
to strengthen our economy, let me use this opportunity to congratulate all
Nigerians for working together to get us out of recession. While we
congratulate ourselves for exiting the recession, it is important that we don’t
rest on our oars as this is not an end in itself. There is a lot of work ahead.
Our aim is to see our economy create millions of new jobs and see growth rates
of 7% or more. This is why the implementation of the 2017 budget is crucial.
6. By the first week of October,
we expect to begin the review of the implementation of the 2017 budget. To set
the stage for this, we expect to invite the Ministers of Finance and Budget
Planning to come and brief the Senate on implementation so far. Nigerians want
to see a more significant improvement in the level of implementation of the
budget this financial year. Let me therefore use this opportunity to call on
all our standing committees to begin the process of putting together their
oversight plan for a close and proper review of the performance of the 2017
Budget. In the same token, we must remind ourselves of the initiative we
started and for which we have significant stride – that is, the Made in Nigeria
initiative. Distinguished colleagues, it is time to enter the next stage of
this initiative; the oversight of implementation to ensure that the policy
yields expected gains.
7. I will like therefore to see
the committees demonstrate proactivity and readiness to engage government to
ensure that at least a significant portion of our annual budget is fully
dedicated to local procurement. All committees of the Senate must be involved
in this and find better channels to engage our people and enable feedbacks.
However, for these efforts to be successful it is required that we maintain
peace and political stability. Hence the need for all of us to fight to keep
Nigeria united and prosperous.
8. Distinguished colleagues, a
house divided against itself will not stand. More than ever before, we need to
stand for the unity and indivisibility of our country. We must condemn in the
strongest possible terms all forms of violence as a form of engagement. The
Constitution and laws have laid down tools and procedures for us to push
through our interest as all democratic nations do. Our nation is blessed with
exceptionally talented and beautiful people, we are collectively strong and
indomitable and it is time for all of us to stand up for our nation. Our dream
of a virile nation must keep us motivated and this dream is already at the
horizon.
9. Distinguished colleagues, as
leaders, closest to our people, we must rededicate ourselves to the values we
have institutionalized in this chamber. In this chamber, we are first and
foremost, Nigerians. Yes, we are Igbos, Yorubas, Hausas, Fulanis. Yes, we are
Muslims, Christians and traditional worshipers. But we must in all our
conversations and decisions continue to be first and foremost Nigerians and as
Nigerian citizens be our brothers’ keepers. Too many of our youths, too many of
our families from the South to the North need a lifting. Our job is to help
government give them a hand and ones again make them feel great again being
Nigerians. This is our mission.
10. As we work to even make our
Constitution better, it must be remembered that Constitution review is a
continuous process which we must undertake with the vision of the future in our
minds. The process we have already will continue in earnest with the meeting of
the speakers of the various state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly
with a view to moving forward with the process. As promised, we will revisit
and consider areas of the Constitution we believe will further strengthen our
federation and enable our collective dream for a more prosperous Nigeria.
11. In the fight against
corruption, aside the bills we have passed, it is important that we also
sharpen up our oversight tools to ensure that government remains accountable
always. However, I urge us all to more than ever, operate above board
ourselves. In the last two years, we have successfully exposed numerous cases
of corruption in our agencies and officers of government and as a result saved
government enormous amount of public resources. This is what Nigerian people
expect of us and we must continue to deliver on this. We must not make the
mistake of resting on our oars. I say this to encourage you to keep up with the
good works of exposing corruption as you have been doing so far. Yes, like
Senator Isah Hamma Misau who had the courage to expose deep rooted institutional
corruption, you will be attacked, blackmailed and insulted but, unlike any
former Senate before this, we will not bow or be intimidated.
12. Distinguished colleagues, our
focus on interventions critical to our national development will continue in
this session. We will be interacting with stakeholders with the aim of
repositioning our education sector and the health sector especially with the
health insurance subsector as key primers of the economy. The major direction
will be to expand access to basic education and health, incentivize investment
in these critical sectors and find lasting solutions to issues of strikes and
interruption in these sectors.
13. Dear colleagues, we are all
witness to the revolutionary growth of innovative works and remarkable fits
Nigerians both in the entertainment industry and software development are
making across the globe. However, their ability to fully harness and reap the
fruits of their effort continues to be hampered by our intellectual property
regime which is yet to be reformed to meet with today’s digital realities and
opportunities. We are determined to contribute our quota to make their lives
easier and better by initiating and paying close attention to our intellectual
property (IP) rights frameworks.
14. Distinguished colleagues, a
lot has happened in our nation within the last few weeks especially with the
floods. Let me take a moment to commiserate with all Nigerians who may have
been affected by the recent floods. Our hearts and prayers are with you at this
period.
15. On a salutary note, I am
happy to report to you distinguished colleagues that while we were away, we
also took note of some of the strides Nigerians have been making. We
congratulate our women on the wining of the African Basket Ball Championship. We
also congratulate our Super Eagles on their journey so far for the world cup
qualifiers and we will continue to support and encourage them.
16. Before, I conclude this
speech, let me on another winning note and on your behalf welcome Mr. President
who has acknowledge his return to office through an executive communication
earlier within the period of our vacation back to the saddle. We pray that the
almighty Allah will continue to grant him full restoration.
17. Let me wish us all a very
successful session. Thank you all and God bless Nigeria.
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