The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has stated that with the recent constitution of the relevant parliamentary committees, the 9th National Assembly is now more prepared and ready to work for the welfare of Nigerians.
Lawan spoke to journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly on his return from the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the early hours of Thursday.
The Senate President who was received on arrival by Senators Barau Jibrin, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele and his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mohammed Karage said, the present National Assembly has been properly constituted, especially with the Standing Committees in place.
He assured that, “we are ready, we are willing, we are capable, we are enhanced to work as an institution, to ensure that we provide those ingredients and inputs that the executive would want for it to implement laudable projects to develop the country”.
Lawan had departed Abuja on Monday, 5th August, 2019 to participate in the Hajj, the first since his emergence as the President of the Senate and was accompanied Senators Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u (Deputy Minority Whip), Teslim Folarin, Bello Mandiya, Ajibola Bashiru, Sani Musa.
The Chairman of the National Assembly who was full of gratitude to God for the opportunity to be part of the over 60,000 Nigerians that participated in this year’s Hajj, also prayed for the country to achieve optimal security, to have stability, peace and progress.
“We prayed for the National Assembly too. It is our prayer that the ninth National Assembly will be one to work for Nigerians and for the benefit of those who voted for us.
“Nigerians in Saudi Arabia came together with other Muslims worldwide to pray for global peace. I’m sure that with the message that we heard as part of this year’s pilgrimage and Eid generally, is a message of sacrifice, brotherhood and unity.
“Nigerians should thank God that we are still together, as such we should work to ensure that the unity of this country is not compromised,” Lawan said.
He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for their leaders pointing out that “leaders are meant to serve the people, and no leader would like to deliberately fail to perform.
“Also, in times of challenges like we are going through presently, Nigerians should continue to be behind their leaders with prayers and support, backed by understanding, and by the Grace of God, Nigeria will reach those great heights that for long we have prayed for.”
Lawan reiterated his appeal to the executive arm of government on the need to be on the same page with the National Assembly to reverse “the undesirable trend of the current budget cycle in Nigeria.”
“We need to work for a budget that will be passed by the National Assembly by December. That requires that we work assiduously with the executive arm of government, to have the budget laid before the National Assembly by the end of September, and for the National Assembly to lock up the whole of October this year for budget defence, so that it can be processed and passed before we go on Christmas break. It is doable, it is achievable and attainable.
“I’m sure if we are able to achieve that, Nigeria’s economy will witness a boost. Businesses in Nigeria will have something predictable to work with. I believe that together with the executive arm of government, we should be able to do this, as this is fundamental to us in the National Assembly, and I’m sure the executive arm is also looking forward to that,” he said.
