NASS ready to work for Nigerians – Lawan

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has said, with the recent constitution of the relevant parliamentary committees, the 9th 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 pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the early hours of Thursday.

“The ninth National Assembly has been properly constituted, especially with our committees in place,” said Lawan, clad in black caftan with a purple cap to match.

“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  said.

In doing that he stated, the yearly  budget cycle will be returned to January – December beginning with the 2020 budget proposals expected from the presidency by the end of next month or first week of October.

“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,” he added.

On spiritual template, the Senate President was full of gratitude to God for the opportunity to be part of the over 60,000 Nigerians that participated in this year’s Hajj.

He said, “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.”

Lawan departed Abuja on Monday, 5th August, 2019 to participate in the Hajj, the first since his emergence as the president of the Senate.

In his company on arrival were Senators Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u (Deputy Minority Whip), Teslim Folarin, Bello Mandiya, Ajibola Bashiru and  Sani Musa while  Senators Barau Jibrin, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele and his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mohammed Karage received them.

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