President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on
Sunday advocated for teacher’s salaries to become an item in the capital
expenditure in the budget of state and Federal Governments in order to ensure
its prompt payment to beneficiaries.
Saraki who spoke during an interactive Town Hall meeting
styled ‘#AskSaraki’, which was organized for constituents of his Kwara Central
Senatorial district, as part of the activities to mark the Eid-el-Kabir
celebrations noted that “I have always said that teacher’s salaries are one of
the priorities that we must not neglect. This is why we should consider
transitioning all such line items in the national and state budgets into capital
expenditures. This will ensure that education is always a matter of greatest
importance and teacher’s salaries are always promptly paid.”
He added that it was useless to put building of classrooms
and provision of laboratory equipment in capital expenditure when the teachers
who will teach students are not paid and therefore not happy.
Saraki who gave account of his stewardship as both Senator
representing Kwara Central District and the Chairman of the 8th National
Assembly also addressed his concerns about the lingering economic situation in
the country, emphasising that a concerted legislative and policy thrust from
both the National Assembly and the executive arms was needed to bring Nigeria
out of recession.
“As things stand, I understand your concerns and feel your
pains about the economy,” he said, “I assure you that we will work together to
bring about legislative and policy solutions to address the lingering economic
situation.”
Saraki answered questions from citizens and community
leaders representing various interests in the state, primarily about the
economic recession, unemployment rates, and his legislative stewardship
throughout the 8th Assembly, highlighting his advocacy and lawmaking activities
which have brought about the passage of bills like the Public Procurement Act
amendment, aimed at giving local producers and service providers first-option
priority in government procurement process and the championing of the Made in
Nigeria campaign.
“What we have done with your mandate at the National
Assembly is to push for bills and initiatives that will put more money in your
pockets,” Saraki said, “With the amendment of the Public Procurement Act, more
entrepreneurs from Kwara and across the country will be able to participate in
the government’s procurement process, and the ‘Made in Nigeria’ campaign will
boost the internally generated revenues of both our state and the Federal
government.”
The Senate President further emphasized that a concerted
approach of both the legislature and the executive is needed to combat the
lingering economic crisis, while underscoring the importance of seeing
obstacles like the recession as opportunities to focus inwards to achieve
economic diversification and better fiscal management.
“I assure you, when the National Assembly resumes, we will
all work together to achieve legislative and policy solutions to the lingering
economic situation,” the Senate President said, “We understand that no one
branch of government can solve this crisis alone.”
He explained that he understood the impact of the economic
crisis in the lives of the people and that he would work with other people in
government to find quick solution to the problem.
"Those of us that you have elected into office are
aware of the difficult economic situation in our country. We know we have to
find a solution as fast as possible. We have no option. Once the Senate
resumes, we will invite all those involved in the management of the economy to
explain to the people what they are doing to solve the problem. Whoever among
them does not measure up to expectation in his or her explanation we will
recommend that he should be removed. This is time for co-operation and exchange
of ideas", Saraki said.
While calling for patience and understanding from the
people, he said the current situation calls for urgent and constant dialogue
between the people in government and the electorate as nobody is happy with the
current situation.
"I appreciate our people. I empathize with you and I am
genuinely concerned and disturbed about what our people are going through. The
situation is grim enough for you to ignore our invitation to this event. Let it
be known that I will never take your support for granted. We will not
disappoint you. The growth of the economy is my major pre-occupation and that
of the Senate" he said to the admiration of the mammoth crowd.
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