Lawan charges senators on poverty, insecurity, corruption, others

Nigeria’s Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has charged his colleagues to roll up their sleeves for the daunting tasks ahead, which he said, must begin in earnest.

In a welcome address to the senators, which he read at plenary on Tuesday, Lawan listed poverty, insecurity, corruption among the ills plaguing the nation and which the lawmakers must be prepared to tackle.

“Distinguished colleagues, it should worry us in this chamber that majority of our people still grapple with extreme poverty. But while how to tackle the growing inequality should be part of our legislative agenda, the security challenge posed by insurgents, kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal cartels from North to South, East to West will require our collective efforts.

“As lawmakers, one of the powerful tools we have for our work is the power of oversight, which is meant to enhance transparency and accountability.

“In exercising these powers, we will not only review, monitor and supervise projects being implemented by the executive, we will critically examine them vis-à-vis the cost and whether they align with our national aspirations.

“And we will follow the progress of these projects right from conception to when they are finally delivered to the people. But we will do so with every sense of responsibility”, Lawan said.

Bemoaning dwindling national resources amid rising population, the President of the Senate said the expectation of the people had remained huge, stressing that the legislature must work together with the executive arm to bridge the gap.

“Therefore, in a season when majority of Nigerians are more concerned with outcomes that reflect their concerns, the best way to serve that interest is through cooperation and collaboration.

“So, in exercising our mandate as lawmakers, we must at all times, and in all circumstances, be guided by how our action will positively impact the greater majority of our people.

“I have in recent weeks had discussions with President Muhammadu Buhari on the challenges facing the country and how we can leverage our position as lawmakers to help him deliver on his mandate.

“I will be doing more of that in the coming weeks and months. If we must build an economy that lifts majority of our people out of poverty, there is need for a serious collaboration between the executive and the legislature.

“I intend to work closely with President Buhari in the interest of Nigeria without compromising the integrity of the National Assembly as an independent arm of government with oversight powers”.