11th of June, 2020, marked a year anniversary of the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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Celebrating the anniversary, the Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Ajibola Surajudeen Basiru Ph.D., BL, reeled out the achievements of the administration under the presidency of Senator Ahmed Lawan (Ph.D).
Senator Basiru on his website traced the history of the Senate and said that the current Senate has “upheld and continued in this enviable tradition offering legislative propositions that have unlocked constitutional lock-jams, planting the seeds for economic transformation and intervening when necessary to steady the ship of State.”
He listed the legislative agenda of Senator Lawan as follows:
“1. Improving Institutional Capacity of the Senate for Effective Performance
2. Legislative Interventions for Good Governance
3. Special Areas of Concern.”
In highlighting the achievements of the 9th Assembly, Senator Basiru was guided by the above agenda and therefore began with the physical structure of the National Assembly itself which he said “had not undergone any major renovations for over 20 years therefore leaving most of its critical and basic components in a sordid state of disrepair.” that 37 billion was budgeted for the renovation but “due to the economic crisis engendered by Covid-19 Pandemic and the crash in the price of oil in the international oil market the Senate agreed that the amount appropriated be dropped in the revised 2020 Appropriation Bill.”
He said aside from the physical structure of the Senate, the 69 Senate Standing Committees is “inclusive of all political parties in the Senate both in terms of chairmanship and membership. Senators belonging to opposition political party also had a fair share of chairmanship of strategic committees of the Senate.”
he so hailed the Senate for the expeditious passage of the 2020 national budget. “The prompt consideration of the above is evidence of the commitment of the 9th Senate to the mantra that the 9th National Assembly is one that works for Nigerians.” he said
Coming down to the second agenda of Senator Lawan titled “LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTIONS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE”, Senator Basiru listed several other achievements including the enactment of the Finance Act 2019 and the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract (Amendment) Act 2019 (Act) which repealed and replaced Section 16 of the Act.
He said “With a view to get maximum return from the oil industry, the 9th Senate is committed to prompt consideration and passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill once same is received from the executive. Necessary training and sensitisation programmes have been organised and attended by Senators belonging to all the relevant commiittees of the Senate.”
On areas of security, Senator Basiru said the Senate “has extensively engaged leaders of our various security agencies on attacks by Boko Haram in the North East, kidnaping and banditry in the North West and North Central Zones, clashes between herdsmen and farmers all across the country, proliferation of light and small arms and other forms of criminality. Its Adhoc-Committee on Nigeria Security Challenges made up of 19 Senators and headed by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi has offered 60 recommendations to be implemented in the immediate, short and long term. It is noteworthy that the decentralization of the command and control structure of the Nigerian Police Force recommended by this Committee has now been adopted by the President as the official policy of the Federal Government.”
On SPECIAL AREAS OF CONCERN, Senator Basiru said “the Senate moved quickly to provide the necessary support for the government. It facilitated the prompt release of funds to address the needs of frontline health workers. It also announced a contribution of half of the salaries of all 109 Senators henceforth to the government as its financial support to battling the unprecedented health challenge.”
He said much work has also been done on electoral reforms and will continue on the days and weeks ahead. He added that the Senate will continue to give the Executive the necessary support “to drive socio-economic development and ensuring the delivery of democratic dividends to Nigerians. This support includes expeditious passage of the Appropriation Bill and other executive bill that will reposition the economic on the path of sustainable recovery, growth and development as well as confirming key appointments of the executive.”
Senator Basiru concluded that the 9th Senate is unique because despite its heterogeneity, it remains united.
“Every Senate like the 9th Senate has been heterogenous in its composition however, what is different with this Senate is that it has proven to be the melting pot of all political ideology, creed, tribe, religion with disregard for discriminatory persuasions. It is determined to run its 4-year term as a platform for building national consensus and bonds of patriotism within organs and tiers of government as well as between the people and the government at large. This basic guiding principle coupled with fact that it has bestowed upon itself a uniquely qualified leadership capable of meeting the demands of the moment will ensure that the 9th Senate is reckoned with as the most productive upper chamber in our democratic history. Mark my words.”
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