NASS ready to work for Nigerians – Lawan News

NASS ready to work for Nigerians – Lawan

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has said that, with the
recent constitution of the relevant parliamentary committees, the
ninth National Assembly is now more prepared and ready to work for
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.

He was received on arrival by Senators Barau Jibrin, Michael
Opeyemi Bamidele and his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mohammed
Karage.

“The ninth National Assembly has been properly constituted,
especially with our committees in place,” said Lawan, cladded in
black caftan with a purple cap to match.

“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
said.

Lawan departed Abuja on Monday, 5th August, 2019 to participate
in the Hajj, the first since his emergence as the President of the
Senate. In his company were Senators Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u (Deputy
Minority Whip), Teslim Folarin, Bello Mandiya, Ajibola Bashiru,
Sani Musa.

Lawan 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.

“We prayed for our 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.

The Senate President 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,” Lawan said.

Ola Awoniyi
Special Adviser on Media to President of the Senate