Saraki calls for collective efforts to grow economy in New Year

As Ekweremadu tasks FG on economy,  credible polls

Senate President, Bukola Saraki has congratulated Nigerians for witnessing the New Year in spite of the hard times and called for collective efforts to end the current recession and grow the economy.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the nation’s challenges are surmountable “but we need to approach them with unity of purpose, focus and single-mindedness.”

He said: “It is a thing of joy to celebrate the New Year in an atmosphere of peace and security. For one thing, the people of the Northeast and indeed across the country are celebrating without fear of attacks from insurgents or other criminal elements.

“This was made possible by the determination of the present administration to effectively secure the country and ensure peace – which is key for any development to be achieved.

“I believe that working collectively in the New Year, we will be able to right the wrongs of the past and ensure renewed economic, social and political development of our dear country. This is not the time to despair as there are signs that things will get better today in the new year.

“We must realize that amid our economic challenge lies our greatest opportunity to diversify and be self-reliant as a nation. This we can do by strengthening the capacity of our entrepreneurs to produce using local content and while we all decide to always buy made in Nigeria goods.”

Also,  in his New Year message,  Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu urged Nigerians to pray for the quick recovery of the nation’s economy in the New Year.

This was even as he called on the Federal Government to put the right policies in place to boost investors’ confidence and spend on infrastructure and critical sectors to reboot the nation’s economy.

Ekweremadu who expressed sadness over the current economic hardship faced by Nigerians, noted that the nation’s leadership needed divine guidance to take the right economic policies and steps.

He added: “No doubt, 2016 will be remembered for unprecedented economic hardship for Nigerians, irrespective of social status, political, ethnic, and religious leanings. Therefore, we must all join hands to seek the face of God for quick economic recovery and peace in our land.

“Importantly, the Federal Government, those in charge of the economy must rise to the occasion. We must assemble the best hands, irrespective of where they come from, to lead the nation out of the economic wilderness”.

The Deputy President of the Senate also tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies, and political elites on improved electoral process ahead of 2019.

“We must restore the confidence of our people in the ballot box. They must freely vote and their votes must count, devoid of all forms of intimidation, manipulation, and political excesses”, he stressed.