Saraki: 8th assembly is the most transparent in Nigeria’s history

Senate President Bukola Saraki says the 8th national assembly is the most open and transparent arm of government in the history of Nigeria.

Saraki said this on Friday at a special plenary session to mark the second anniversary of the 8th senate.

He said the 8th senate has pushed the boundaries of conventional law making.

The senate president said the present crop of senators have broken “the 12-year jinx on the PIB by passing the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB)”.

“In lawmaking process we have not been afraid to push the boundaries of convention, that is why the 8th senate be credited as having the initiative the first ever national assembly to do a public hearing on the budget,” he said.

“The 8th senate broke the 12-year jinx on the PIB by passing the Petroleum Industry Governance bill, the 8th senate is the first senate to pursue a development economic agenda on the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“We committed ourselves to opening our budget to the world. We have done that. We promised to pass this economic reform bills, we have fulfilled that promise we made.

“Distinguished colleagues, our invited guest today, it can be said that the 8th senate has led the way in open government and transparency, aside opening our books to the public, we have also opened what we do to the world and we are the first to adopt live streaming of plenary and deliberations globally.

“Indeed we have become the most open arm of government in the history of Nigeria till date.”

He also said that the 8th senate had broken a record of passing 96 bills in just two years.

“Today the 8th senate has passed 96 bills in just two years eclipsing the highest ever in the history of the national assembly, a record held by the senate after passing 65 bills in the same period of time,” he said.