‘After 4-years, I want to leave behind a more effective Senate’

Senate President

In a statement signed by his special adviser on media and publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, Saraki noted that the role of the legislature in a young democracy like Nigeria is often misconstrued.

The Senate President maintained that his goal remains to leave the 8th Senate in a better position than he met it.

He emphasized the need to make the National Assembly work towards positively influencing the lives of all Nigerians through its powers of lawmaking, oversight and advocacy.

“The President of the Senate is just first amongst equals,” Saraki said.

“However, what always motivates me is that drive to leave this institution better than we met it. I always like to leave a place stronger than I met it, and more capable to deliver on its constitutional role and functions than how it was before I got there.

ALSO READ: Senate President promises quick passage of Anti-Hate Speech, Jungle Justice Bills

“The difference between democracy and dictatorship is parliament. This is why I tell people that it is not about who the Senate President, the President, or the Chief Justice of Nigeria is, we must always work to strengthen all our institutions.

“For example, in four years, I’m gone. Somebody else will be there, but the institution will always remain. If you have weak parliament that is not effectively able to champion the needs of the people, you will have a weak democracy. However, because of myopic interest at times, some people do not see why we must protect the mandates and integrity of these institutions.

“When we decided to have a presidential system of governance, it was based on the fact that there must be checks and balances. When these safeguards are in place, it strengthens our democracy and promotes the sort of collaboration across the board that helps us meet the needs of Nigerians,” the President of the Senate said.

Saraki also emphasized that the 8th Senate will continue to remain committed to people-centered governance.

“Moving forward, we will continue to target laws and interventions that will have direct benefits to all Nigerians. We have started this with our economic priority bills, and we can see the impact with the up-tick in banks now lending to more MSMEs. However, we will not stop here.

“With the slight improvement in our economy, it now behooves on all of us, the executive and the legislature, to work towards ensuring that these improvements translate directly to the pockets of Nigerians and the rising cost of living across the country. We have a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.