The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said
that the passage of the Administrative and Fiscal Policy Bills for the
petroleum industry will be key issues for the Senate when it resumes after its
annual recess.
In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity),
Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki also outlined the priority issues for the Senate
to tackle in the next 22 months.
These include focus on developing Nigeria’s infrastructure
deficit through appropriate legislations, considering more bills aimed at
repositioning the national economy so as to enable it address rising
unemployment, and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy through legislative
oversight on government establishments.
He added that other issues that would preoccupy the upper
chamber of the federal legislature would include entrenchment of transparency
in governance at all levels, the universal health coverage law, and
strengthening the institution of the Senate by ensuring that people begin to
understand the role of parliament in the governing of the nation.
“From day one, this Senate had its own legislative agenda.
You will see that some of the things we have been doing are working our way
through this agenda, in order to cross items off our list and deliver on our
promised change.
“This has allowed us to treat more petitions than any other
parliament in our nation’s history, and pass more bills at the mid-term mark,”
Saraki said.
“This is why, as we return in September, we will be
finalising on our infrastructure and social intervention pieces of legislation.
“These are laws that will not only make it easier for small
and medium enterprises across the nation to do business. We will make laws that
would create ample opportunities for all Nigerians to realise their potential,”
he added.
Saraki said the host community component of the Petroleum
Industry Bill (PIB), which looks at the ecological debt incurred against communities
where petroleum exploration happens, and community participation and security
of these communities will also be on the front burner of the Senate. “This is
something Nigerians can watch out for. Similarly, the Industry Administration
component of the PIB, which seeks to open up the industry to investment and
growth, as well as create the much-needed expansion of the industry by allowing
new entrants into the operations of the industry, is now at the committee stage
at the Senate. We will work to quickly pass the bill,” Saraki said.
The Senate President promised that even though the Senate
only had less than 22-months to complete its term, with several noteworthy
achievements already recorded, it would not take its foot off the pedal.
“Yes, a lot has been done. However, many of the positive
effects of our work might still take some time to be felt. This is why we will
continue to keep pushing and keep pressing for the people that we represent.
“So that one day, they will look back and say that ‘Yes,
truly, the 8th Senate really worked hard for us’.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment