Senate will comprehensively debate fixing the economy, says Saraki

Bukola Saraki, senate president, on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the present economic recession rocking the country will soon be tackled through legislative support.

Saraki gave the assurance in Ilorin during an interaction with journalists.

He said the major preoccupation of the senate upon resumption on September 20 will be to find solutions to the economic recession.

“We are going to have an exhaustive and comprehensive debate on fixing the country’s economy when we resume next week,” he said.

“Already, all the economic priority bills are being analysed and collated so that we can hit the ground running when we resume. We understand the pains that Nigerians are going through and we do not take this for granted.

“Additionally, the senate intends to invite everybody involved in the management of the economy to address the Nigerian people through the parliament on the steps that are being taken to get us out of this mess.

“We fully intend to hold all those involved in the economic management of the country accountable. However, we will do so in a manner that is transparent and beneficial to the country as a whole.”

The senate president said it is important to begin to formulate and actualise both legislative frameworks and executive policies to minimise the effects of the recession on Nigerians.

“We need to ascertain our actual level of borrowing and what effect the devaluation of the naira has had on our economy,” he said.

“In every crisis, there is always an opportunity for positive reforms, in this regard, in order to solve this crisis; all hands must be on deck.

“Ideas should be sourced from all quarters, all arms of government, people of different political beliefs, from all socioeconomic backgrounds and every part of Nigeria must work together at this time.”

He reiterated his call for a broader and bolder economic plan with input from both legislative and executive arms of government, the private sector and professional groups.

All the groups, according to him, must work together to put in place interventions that will create more jobs, strengthen the naira, bring more investment into the country, and attain fiscal responsibility.

Saraki harped on the need for Nigeria to rally its best economic minds both from within the country and in the Diaspora in order to tackle the economic recession.

“This recession does not identify with any one party, we need to tap into the expertise of our best economic minds to come up with plans that both the executive and the legislature can evaluate and implement,” he said.

Saraki  called on Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia to pray fervently for the recovery of the nation’s ailing economy. (NAN)