By Sunny Anderson Osiebe..
Senate
President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Wednesday urged the media to
collaborate with the upper chamber in its efforts aimed at pulling the
nation's economy
out of recession.
Saraki,
according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, in
Abuja, while presenting a keynote address at the 2016 Awards/Dinner for
Senators and Journalists covering the Senate,
organized by the Senate Press Corps.
While
commending the awardees and organizers of the event, he urged the media
to always ensure truth and objectivity in their reportage of events so
as to adequately
inform and educate the people about the activities of the parliament.
The
Senate President stated that the 8th Senate has put adequate processes
in place not only to ensure that the 2017 budget is passed in record
time but to see
a product and quality that Nigerians can be proud of.
"We
will also continue to plead that there must be objectivity and truth in
your reporting," Saraki said. "We must also continue to educate our
good people on
the efforts we are making in the Senate.
"I
believe that over the last few months a lot of work has been going on
in the Senate showing that it is more business-like approach and I am
confident that
during the remaining period of our tenure, we will definitely lay a
foundation that others after us will build on.
"I
think at this particular time, let me use this opportunity because in
the 8th Senate we keep on talking about the economy, economy, economy
and I know that
it is very tempting sometimes for the media to continue to focus on
what will grab the headlines. I want to appeal to you to blend what is
important for the people we represent with the ones that will grab
headlines. Today what is important for the people
we represent is how do we can get ourselves out of this recession.
"That
might not in some cases grab the headlines. We will appreciate if you
can work with us so that we can achieve this objective. It is our own
view that we
continue to address how we can improve the economy and we are confident
that this time all the budget processes that we have put in place will
ensure that we try as much as possible to ensure that the product and
the quality is one that we will all be proud
of."
Saraki said the National Assembly is working to ensure that the 2017 budget is passed in record time and also implementable.
He
added: "Some of the comments you might have heard today and you will
hear in the during the budget process, are not comments that are against
government. They
are comments that will ensure that the product that we will deliver is a
product that Nigerians will be proud of.
"I
think we are all tired of having budget documents that at the end of
the day, when it comes to implementation, they don't mean anything. But
when we all come
together and put all our best efforts, we have something that we will
be proud of.
"And
it is also in this spirit that I am confident that this time around, we
will also be able to pass the 2017 budget at the earliest time possible
than we have
seen in the last few years," he said.
Some of the
award categories and the recipients include: Parliamentary Media Award
for Leadership - Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume; Lawmaking Facilitator of
the Year Award - Sen Andy Uba; Senator of the
Year Award - Senator Dino Melaye; Gender Rights Senator of the Year
Award - Senator Abiodun Olujimi; Senate Committee Chairman of the Year
Award - Senator Samuel Anyanwu; and Outstanding Grassroots
Parliamentarian Award - Senator Kabiru Gaya.
Others
are: Most Innovative Constituency Project of the Year Award - Senator
Enyinnaya Abaribe; Apostle of Peace in the Senate Award - Senator
Barnabas Gemade;
Parliamentary Advocate for Infrastructural Development Award - Senate
Olugbenga Ashafa; Parliamentary Leader of the Decade Award - Senator
David Mark; and Parliamentary Bureaucrat of the Year Award - Mr. Olajide
Owolabi Adelami.
Members
of the Senate Press who also received recognition are: Mr. James Itodo -
Senate Reporter of the Year (Radio); Mr. Summer Shagari Sambo - Senate
Reporter
of the Year (Television); Mr. Taiye Odewale - Senate Reporter of the
Year (Print); Mr. Ismail Mudashir - Senate Investigative Journalist of
the Year; Mr. Francis Ojo - Senate Photo-Journalist of the Year; Mr.
David-West Okpoko (Senate Videographer of the
Year and Mr. Aminu Martins Omoye - Most Active Press Corps Executive.
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