Protocol:
1.
Distinguished colleagues, it is heart warming for me to see you back in
good health, refreshed and energised for the work ahead. Let me on
behalf of myself and the entire leadership wish you and
all Nigerians a very happy new year.
2. 2016, was a
very challenging year for all of us. But I assure you that the work we
have done so far is gradually setting the stage for a greater and better
2017. Let me therefore, begin this address
by thanking every one of you for the hard work and dedication exhibited
in the last quarter of last year to keep the promise we made to all
Nigerians that we would pass laws that would make the difference in
their lives.
3. It is
already historic that within the last quarter, which incidentally is the
second quarter of this session, we all rolled up our sleeves, with
sweat on our brows and successfully passed 49
bills through 3rd reading
and 68 bills through second reading. This is a record setting feat,
which has never been matched in the history
of the National Assembly. That within a period of 4 months in the
middle of the term of any past National Assembly, 49 bills are passed in
a single quarter.
4. I want to
especially thank all the committees who worked tireless to help us
achieve this milestone. Let me also thank our President Muhammadu Buhari
for showing faith with the work we are doing
here at the National Assembly as he has by today signed into law 16 of
the bills we have passed into law already.
5.
Distinguished colleagues, as long as our economy is still in recession,
our work is not done. Because our people are still being laid off; so
long as factories are closing shop, for as the hardship
in the land continues to bite harder, investment continues to dwindle
and the foreign exchange market remains fragmented, I will be demanding
even much more from us to get all our economic reform bills passed.
Ideally we would like to see them pass together
with the 2017 budget. Let me therefore urge all our committees involved
with our priority bills to double efforts to ensure that by the end of
the first quarter of this year we will have these bills ready.
6. We promise
to pass our priority economic reform bills to help aid our economic
recovery. This is a promise we must keep. There are already, new NASSBER
research findings projecting that our priority
bills, will have an output impact equivalent to an average of 6.87% of
GDP over a 5-year period on the economy. The average annual growth in
jobs is estimated at approximately 7.55 million additional employments
as well as an average of 16.42% reduction in
Nigeria’s poverty rate. Over the projected 5-year period, it is
suggested that the reforms, which these bills would engender, may add an
average of N3.76 Trillion to National incomes (National Disposable
Income was N85.62 trillion in 2014), equivalent to 4.39%
of 2014 figures.
7. These
statistics make the delivery of these bills imperative and confirm
evidently that we have got our priorities right so far. It is hoped that
as we begin to turn our focus now towards the
passage of the 2017 budget, these bills will be implemented
simultaneously with the budget to enable us exit the recession quickly.
8. It is
therefore imperative that we immediately begin work earnestly on the
MTEF to ensure passage by the end of the week. In this way,
consideration and debate on the 2017 budget will immediately
follow in the 3 “sitting days” of the next week. It is our hope that we
will with this budget begin the implementation of the report of the
Committee on Budget Reforms, which has since submitted its report. This
will enable more Nigerians participate in the
budget consideration process, deepen the review and create the
necessary efficiencies we expect from our budget implementation.
9.
Distinguished colleagues, there is hardly a point reiterating the
importance of making the 2017 budget the most successful budget we have
ever passed, neither is it important to emphasise the
need to have this budget back on the desk of the executive on time for
implementation. As you may be aware, based on the recommendations of the
Budget Reform Committee, we are working towards ensuring that budgets
are prepared and submitted timely, so that
implementation will follow a regular fiscal circle. In this regard, the
National Assembly will not tolerate agencies of government not
submitting their budgets within the budget period. This is why I urge
all agencies yet to submit their budgets to do so quickly
as budgets not received within time may have to wait for the next
budget circle.
10. The budget
is the most critical instrument within our public context for economic
reordering. It is an effective tool to stimulate the economy, ensure an
even distribution of development across
the country; and give the “Made In Nigeria” initiative the impetus to
survive and in the long term, sustain itself. In this particular
regard, the Senate has played its part by passing the amendment to the
Procurement Act for which we are awaiting concurrence
by the House and for the immediate assent of the President. Once this
happens, we will not rest at simply assigning it back to the relevant
committee but rather, we all will play our part to ensure that all
government agencies comply with the law. I for one,
intend to put the full weight of my Office behind this initiative to
build the trust and ensuing patronage of Nigerians in goods and products
made by our own people. I truly believe that this is the singular
policy that can play a key role in getting out of
this recession, provide the needed jobs; and keep the economy going.
11. The issue of
policy inconsistencies remains an issue that continues to challenge our
business environment. I have in the past argued and still hold the view
that for a private sector-led economy
to thrive, we need to reform our policy environment to give investors
and our businessmen and women ample adjustment time to make informed
investment decisions rather than have uncertainties. This is especially
important in the agriculture and solid mineral
sectors where we have significant economies of scale and opportunities
for diversification of our economy. In view of this we shall, in
consultation with stakeholders across board be looking at legislative
measures that could increase the potential for a more
stable policy environment starting with the agricultural businesses and
solid mineral resources sectors of our economy.
12.
Distinguished Colleagues, before we left for the break, myself, a select
few of us and stakeholders in the power sector met to get an
understanding of why no progress has been made thus far despite
the best intention; and the revelations were mind-boggling. There had
been errors in the privatisation process and the model by which the
power sector is being operated—whether at generation or
distribution—will never take us where we need to be. It has failed
and nobody appears willing to tackle the issue head-on towards a
permanent resolution. I have mandated the Senate Committee on Power to
continue the consultation with the relevant parties to forge a path to
solving our crippling power deficit. After all, if
we are going to drive Nigerian industry, we need to resolve this and
fast.
13. My dear
colleagues, while we have our attention on the economy and are working
with sweat on our brows to improve it for the betterment of our people,
we cannot lose sight of the callous and
growing circle of violence across the country, especially now in
southern Kaduna. We condemn in totality to depravity being exhibited on
the streets of Kafanchan. This Senate will not pay lip service to it
neither will it sit idly by and watch innocent Nigerians
being slaughtered on the basis of their religion, ethnic group or
political persuasion. No, we will not stand aloof. Let me therefore; use
this opportunity to call on the leadership in the state to use its
authority and constitutional mandate to bring to immediate
halt the growing orgy of violence that has enveloped Southern Kaduna.
This new theatre of conflict is one too many and must be nipped in the
bud. Thankfully, a motion to this effect is already before us. We will
ensure a thorough investigation is carried out
to unravel the issues and advise government appropriately on the matter
in order to ensure that all those found culpable are severely dealt
with irrespective of who may be behind them. This will ensure there is
no repeat of this madness and assure the people
of Kaduna that injustice and impunity will not be allowed to triumph
over our collective will to maintain our national unity and coherence.
14. The
Petroleum Industry continues to be critical to the health of our
economy. This is why, the Senate is urging the Executive to take
positive steps to begin pen and meaningful dialogue with
those aggrieved in the Niger Delta to proffer lasting solutions that
will help us take advantage of the emerging international oil market
outlook to revamp our economic fortunes. The proposed engagement we
suggest must be sincere, constructive, open, and confidence
building. This Senate is willing to assist and play whatever role
necessary to facilitate a successful agreement that would help us see to
the end if the lingering conflict.
15.
Distinguished colleagues, I would want us during this session to also
pay attention to the protection and preservation of consumer rights. The
current situation where consumers’ rights are violated
and treated with indignity must stop. We are prepared to defend the
right of the Nigerian to receive a superior quality of product or
service purchased with their hard-earned resources. We will not stand
for the exploitation of consumers and we have already
shown that we are unafraid to tackle such an issue whether perpetrated
by public or private sector service-providers; as was the case of the
intended data tariff hike proposed by the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC) which we moved swiftly to prevent.
We want people to know that they can run to us and we will in turn rise
in defense of the Nigerian consumer who should be respected as a
driving force in the economy.
16. I cannot
end this brief remark of mine without emphasising on the need for us to
pursue and conclude the on going constitutional review process which we
will conclude by the end of this session
in March. We must do this to ensure that our people begin to enjoy the
benefits of the intended reforms which will help strengthen our unity,
increase our prosperity and opportunity as we as expand our liberty and
happiness across the country.
17. Finally,
distinguished colleagues, let me thank you all for your unflinching
focus and perseverance in the way you have conducted yourself as we
march towards the attainment of most of our laid
priorities. Though there have been many distractions on the way and
unmerited traducers unleashed at you to weaken your resolve, you have
remained resolute and un-detachable to our collective goal. This is a
reflection of what can be achieved if we keep the
focus before the end of our tenure. Like a said when we started this
journey, history beckons and we cannot afford to lose sight of the goal.
18. Thank you for your attention and God bless Nigeria.
(Dr.) Abubakar Bukola Saraki
President, Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
0 comments: