- Senate president Bukola Saraki faults the notion that the National Assembly is being over-funded
- He says increase in legislative activities especially that of the 8th senate has created funding constraint for the legislative arm of government
- APC senator backs Obasanjo, asks Buhari to obey former president’s advice
The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has said that the National Assembly is facing funding challenges in carrying out its statutory functions.
Saraki in a statement by his special assistant on print media, Chuks Okocha, also dismissed the notion that National Assembly is being over funded.
Speaking when he paid a working visit to the chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission ( NASC ) at their temporary office located in Utako, Abuja on Wednesday, January 24, the Senate president said increase in legislative activities especially that of the 8th senate has created funding constraint for the legislative arm of government.
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He said: "One of the things that I see here today is the issue of budgetary constraints. However, the impression around the country is often that the National Assembly has too much money. But we have seen the challenges of the last few years.
“As we work through the number of bills passed, the public hearings held, and the number of ad-hoc committees that have been established — we know the challenges of not being able to fund some of our activities.
“So far, I am happy to report that despite these constraints, the 8th Senate has been able to surpass all previous Senates in the number of Bills that we have passed in 2-years — despite the funding gaps.
“We know that as we continue over time, people will begin to have more confidence in the National Assembly. However, right now, the challenges that we have are the issue of perception, and the issue of funding. We need to work hard to change this.”
“Therefore, we all have a lot of work in trying to make the people appreciate the role of the legislature in our democracy."
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Meanwhile, the senator representing Kaduna central, Shehu Sani, has called on president Muhammadu Buhari to heed the admonition of former president Olusegun Obasanjo and quit his re-election bid.
Sani who is a member of the All Progressives Congress, said the president should emulate Nelson Mandela of South Africa, and bow out while the ovation is loudest.
Premium Times reports that the senator said the views advanced by the former president remains the views of the majority in the ruling class.
He added that the ‘truth’ is better than ‘deceptions’ currently being availed President Buhari.
He advised Nigerians not to discard the contents of the letter while advising President Buhari to heed the advice.
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Source: Naija.ng