The senate on Tuesday resumed first legislative day for year
2017 in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senate President, Bukola
Saraki delivered a welcome back speech to the senate. Continue to read full
speech below…
Protocol:
1.Distinguished colleagues, it is heart warming for me to
see you back in good health, refreshed and energised for the work ahead. Let me
on behalf of myself and the entire leadership wish you and all Nigerians a very
happy new year.
2. 2016, was a very challenging year for all of us. But I
assure you that the work we have done so far is gradually setting the stage for
a greater and better 2017. Let me therefore, begin this address by thanking
every one of you for the hard work and dedication exhibited in the last quarter
of last year to keep the promise we made to all Nigerians that we would pass
laws that would make the difference in their lives.
3. It is already historic that within the last quarter,
which incidentally is the second quarter of this session, we all rolled up our
sleeves, with sweat on our brows and successfully passed 49 bills through 3rd
reading and 68 bills through second reading. This is a record setting feat,
which has never been matched in the history of the National Assembly. That
within a period of 4 months in the middle of the term of any past National
Assembly, 49 bills are passed in a single quarter.
4. I want to especially thank all the committees who worked
tireless to help us achieve this milestone. Let me also thank our President
Muhammadu Buhari for showing faith with the work we are doing here at the
National Assembly as he has by today signed into law 16 of the bills we have
passed into law already.
5. Distinguished colleagues, as long as our economy is still
in recession, our work is not done. Because our people are still being laid
off; so long as factories are closing shop, for as the hardship in the land
continues to bite harder, investment continues to dwindle and the foreign
exchange market remains fragmented, I will be demanding even much more from us
to get all our economic reform bills passed. Ideally we would like to see them
pass together with the 2017 budget. Let me therefore urge all our committees
involved with our priority bills to double efforts to ensure that by the end of
the first quarter of this year we will have these bills ready.
6. We promise to pass our priority economic reform bills to
help aid our economic recovery. This is a promise we must keep. There are
already, new NASSBER research findings projecting that our priority bills, will
have an output impact equivalent to an average of 6.87% of GDP over a 5-year
period on the economy. The average annual growth in jobs is estimated at
approximately 7.55 million additional employments as well as an average of
16.42% reduction in Nigeria’s poverty rate. Over the projected 5-year period,
it is suggested that the reforms, which these bills would engender, may add an
average of N3.76 Trillion to National incomes (National Disposable Income was
N85.62 trillion in 2014), equivalent to 4.39% of 2014 figures.
7. These statistics make the delivery of these bills
imperative and confirm evidently that we have got our priorities right so far.
It is hoped that as we begin to turn our focus now towards the passage of the
2017 budget, these bills will be implemented simultaneously with the budget to
enable us exit the recession quickly.
8. It is therefore imperative that we immediately begin work
earnestly on the MTEF to ensure passage by the end of the week. In this way,
consideration and debate on the 2017 budget will immediately follow in the 3
“sitting days” of the next week. It is our hope that we will with this budget
begin the implementation of the report of the Committee on Budget Reforms,
which has since submitted its report. This will enable more Nigerians
participate in the budget consideration process, deepen the review and create the
necessary efficiencies we expect from our budget implementation.
9. Distinguished colleagues, there is hardly a point
reiterating the importance of making the 2017 budget the most successful budget
we have ever passed, neither is it important to emphasise the need to have this
budget back on the desk of the executive on time for implementation. As you may
be aware, based on the recommendations of the Budget Reform Committee, we are
working towards ensuring that budgets are prepared and submitted timely, so
that implementation will follow a regular fiscal circle. In this regard, the
National Assembly will not tolerate agencies of government not submitting their
budgets within the budget period. This is why I urge all agencies yet to submit
their budgets to do so quickly as budgets not received within time may have to
wait for the next budget circle.
10. The budget is the most critical instrument within our
public context for economic reordering. It is an effective tool to stimulate
the economy, ensure an even distribution of development across the country; and
give the “Made In Nigeria” initiative the impetus to survive and in the long
term, sustain itself. In this particular regard, the Senate has played its part
by passing the amendment to the Procurement Act for which we are awaiting
concurrence by the House and for the immediate assent of the President. Once
this happens, we will not rest at simply assigning it back to the relevant
committee but rather, we all will play our part to ensure that all government
agencies comply with the law. I for one, intend to put the full weight of my
Office behind this initiative to build the trust and ensuing patronage of
Nigerians in goods and products made by our own people. I truly believe that
this is the singular policy that can play a key role in getting out of this
recession, provide the needed jobs; and keep the economy going.
11. The issue of policy inconsistencies remains an issue
that continues to challenge our business environment. I have in the past argued
and still hold the view that for a private sector-led economy to thrive, we
need to reform our policy environment to give investors and our businessmen and
women ample adjustment time to make informed investment decisions rather than
have uncertainties. This is especially important in the agriculture and solid
mineral sectors where we have significant economies of scale and opportunities
for diversification of our economy. In view of this we shall, in consultation
with stakeholders across board be looking at legislative measures that could
increase the potential for a more stable policy environment starting with the
agricultural businesses and solid mineral resources sectors of our economy.
12. Distinguished Colleagues, before we left for the break,
myself, a select few of us and stakeholders in the power sector met to get an
understanding of why no progress has been made thus far despite the best
intention; and the revelations were mind-boggling. There had been errors in the
privatisation process and the model by which the power sector is being
operated—whether at generation or distribution—will never take us where we need
to be. It has failed and nobody appears willing to tackle the issue head-on
towards a permanent resolution. I have mandated the Senate Committee on Power
to continue the consultation with the relevant parties to forge a path to
solving our crippling power deficit. After all, if we are going to drive
Nigerian industry, we need to resolve this and fast.
13. My dear colleagues, while we have our attention on the
economy and are working with sweat on our brows to improve it for the
betterment of our people, we cannot lose sight of the callous and growing
circle of violence across the country, especially now in southern Kaduna. We
condemn in totality to depravity being exhibited on the streets of Kafanchan.
This Senate will not pay lip service to it neither will it sit idly by and
watch innocent Nigerians being slaughtered on the basis of their religion,
ethnic group or political persuasion. No, we will not stand aloof. Let me
therefore; use this opportunity to call on the leadership in the state to use
its authority and constitutional mandate to bring to immediate halt the growing
orgy of violence that has enveloped Southern Kaduna. This new theatre of conflict
is one too many and must be nipped in the bud. Thankfully, a motion to this
effect is already before us. We will ensure a thorough investigation is carried
out to unravel the issues and advise government appropriately on the matter in
order to ensure that all those found culpable are severely dealt with
irrespective of who may be behind them. This will ensure there is no repeat of
this madness and assure the people of Kaduna that injustice and impunity will
not be allowed to triumph over our collective will to maintain our national
unity and coherence.
14. The Petroleum Industry continues to be critical to the
health of our economy. This is why, the Senate is urging the Executive to take
positive steps to begin pen and meaningful dialogue with those aggrieved in the
Niger Delta to proffer lasting solutions that will help us take advantage of
the emerging international oil market outlook to revamp our economic fortunes.
The proposed engagement we suggest must be sincere, constructive, open, and
confidence building. This Senate is willing to assist and play whatever role
necessary to facilitate a successful agreement that would help us see to the
end if the lingering conflict.
15. Distinguished colleagues, I would want us during this
session to also pay attention to the protection and preservation of consumer
rights. The current situation where consumers’ rights are violated and treated
with indignity must stop. We are prepared to defend the right of the Nigerian
to receive a superior quality of product or service purchased with their
hard-earned resources. We will not stand for the exploitation of consumers and
we have already shown that we are unafraid to tackle such an issue whether
perpetrated by public or private sector service-providers; as was the case of
the intended data tariff hike proposed by the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC) which we moved swiftly to prevent. We want people to know that
they can run to us and we will in turn rise in defense of the Nigerian consumer
who should be respected as a driving force in the economy.
16. I cannot end this brief remark of mine without
emphasising on the need for us to pursue and conclude the on going
constitutional review process which we will conclude by the end of this session
in March. We must do this to ensure that our people begin to enjoy the benefits
of the intended reforms which will help strengthen our unity, increase our
prosperity and opportunity as we as expand our liberty and happiness across the
country.
17. Finally, distinguished colleagues, let me thank you all
for your unflinching focus and perseverance in the way you have conducted
yourself as we march towards the attainment of most of our laid priorities.
Though there have been many distractions on the way and unmerited traducers
unleashed at you to weaken your resolve, you have remained resolute and
un-detachable to our collective goal. This is a reflection of what can be
achieved if we keep the focus before the end of our tenure. Like a said when we
started this journey, history beckons and we cannot afford to lose sight of the
goal.
18. Thank you for your attention and God bless Nigeria.
(Dr.) Abubakar Bukola Saraki
President, Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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