… Inaugurates Its Committees
Abuja- The upper chamber of the National Assembly yesterday said it has received the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in preparation for the 2020 budget.
The Senate, which also decried the state of the petroleum industry in the country, added that before 2020, it will work assiduously to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Speaking while inaugurating the Senate Committees, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said that the security architecture in the country has not achieved the desire results.
As against the previous ways of inaugurating standing committees, Lawan said, “this occasion is a departure from previous ways of inaugurating the committees. We have resorted to this in order to save precious time.
“The senate received the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), this morning. As the preparations for the Appropriation 2020 is on top gear, and could be received soon, our committees need to be ready to perform their functions. Time, therefore, is of essence.”
The President of the Senate has not only lamented the security challenges in the country, but also lamented that petroleum industry has stagnated for too long, and in need of serious reform.
He said: “Our petroleum industry is almost stagnant and for long needing profound reform. Our oil and gas related committees, are therefore expected to work hard to take the lead in our determination to reform this vital sector. It is the desire, indeed the design of this Senate that, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is passed before the end of 2020.
“The security architecture of our country has not achieved the desired results of providing the needed security to our citizens. Our security agencies need better funding and other resources for better performance.
“As security is a fundamental responsibility of government, no amount of investment is too much. Our security related committees are therefore challenged to assess and review both the architecture and structure of our security agencies towards improved efficiency.”
He, however, reiterated that the standing committees will undertake regular oversights
with a view to ensuring that government programmes and projects are properly executed for the benefit of our citizens.
“We will give the committees all the necessary support to function at the optimum, just as we enjoin them to leave no stone upturned in the bid to execute their mandates. Our target is to achieve the set goals of taking Nigeria to the next level,” he said.