National Assembly will work for Nigerians, Lawan assures

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.

“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,” he added.

Lawan left Nigeria August 5, 2019 to participate in the Hajj, the first
since his emergence as the President of the Senate.

“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.