Fellow Kwarans, permit me to reflect on some national issues that are of utmost importance and benefits to the people of Kwara State.
The present working relationship between the Presidency and the National Assembly is commendable just like the synergy the two arms of government have injected into the management of the nation.
Some of these instances include but not limited to the passage of the supplementary budget, the hitch-free screening of ministerial nominees and the recent passage of the 2016 Appropriation Bill.
The passage of the 2016 Appropriation Bill, after several contentious issues and initial hitches, by the National Assembly under the able leadership of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is a proof that the executive and the legislature are actually working together for the benefit of the masses. It further shows that the president of the nation, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and the chairman of the National Assembly, Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki are on the same page on the issues of governance.
The synergy between the duo has risen the hope of Nigerians and indicated that if both leaders forge ahead with this convincingly high level committment and patriotism, the nation may soon witness unprecedented development in all facets of the economy.
One must therefore salute the leadership roles of the Senate President in the management of the National Assembly. Given the slim majority that our party, the APC, has in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, many Nigerians would have believed getting things done would be most difficult. However, the chairman of the National Assembly, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has proved beyond doubt, that he remains a good ambassador of our party. One is proud of him.
Out of the numerous projects in the 2016 budget, the Ilorin-Jebba highway is of special interest. It is no news that motorists encounter untold hardship while plying the road. This is a road linking the north and southern parts of Nigeria which has claimed many lives and crippled socio-economic activities of the people. I am delighted that the process that will lead to a fully reconstructed and motorable road has commenced.
In the past, the reconstruction work on the road had been abandoned. It has been from one issue to issue. It is either the government failed to pay mobilisation funds or paltry sum is released as mobilisation funds. Now, times have changed. With the APC-led federal government, no contractor, no matter how highly placed, can default on contractual agreement provided the federal government is willing to play its part.
On this road project, I commend the ingenuity and support of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr President has indeed shown that he feels the pains of Nigeria.
Also worthy of commendation is the role played by the Senate President, Dr. Abukabar Bukola Saraki, on the Ilorin-Jebba road. He did not only bring the project to the fore by making it a priority in legislative agenda, he also liaised with the executive to ensure the project was appropriated for. I salute the Senate President for using his good office to bargain development for Kwara and Niger States. This development will certainly benefit the people of Kwara State and Nigerians who ply the highway.
I am confident that on completion of the road project, it would hugely boast economic activities between the northern and southern parts of the country.
It is good to note that the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has assured that the National Assembly will ensure full implementation of the 2016 budget though effective oversight functions. With this assurance coming from the Senate President himself, Nigerians have no reason no worry about issues of abadoned projects or contractors absconding from project sites. It is therefore necessary for Nigerians to support the National Assembly in its expressed committment to carry out effective oversight functions on the 2016 budget.
Forging ahead, the executive and legislature should always close ranks in order to surmount the demanding task of governance so that Nigerians can ceaselessly take delivery of the dividends of change.