President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has pledged the support of the 10th National Assembly for economic reforms that will bring more revenue to the national coffers to ensure the survival of the country.
Senator Akpabio made the pledge at the opening of a two day-retreat for members of the 10th Senate on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Akpabio urged his senator-colleagues to follow the dreams of their forebears by ensuring the development of the country.
He expressed the commitment of the federal lawmakers to an economy of double-digit GDP growth, greater food security and one with a strengthened manufacturing base.
The Senate President also assured of support for an active digital economy where young people will have ample space to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.
He charged his colleagues to work together in ensuring that the expectations and hopes of the people who voted them into office are not betrayed.
This was as the Senate President explained that the federal lawmakers will try not to work at cross-purposes with the executive arm of government.
He said the major objective of the retreat was to improve the knowledge of the senators and build their technical capacity.
This, he said, is aimed at generating concrete and consistent legislation that would promote peace and sustainable development in tandem with the renewed hope and 8-point agenda of the Tinubu/Shettima Administration.
Akpabio also called for a long-term plan to improve on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the country and the “unbundling of the Federal Government and amendment of some laws to that effect.”
President Bola Tinubu urged members of the National Assembly to work with the Executive in strengthening and growing the economy of Nigeria.
The president assured of his commitments to do all within his powers to engender better life for all Nigerians.
The president, represented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, stated this while declaring open the retreat.
He noted that it was unacceptable to him that 65 per cent of the Nigerian population, representing 84 Million people, formed the multi-dimensionally poor.
Tinubu declared that he would ensure that the three per cent progress made in developing the economy would be sustained.
“We will ensure life is better for all Nigerians. It is unacceptable that we are quoted as having 65 per cent of the population, 84 million people are found as multi-dimensionally poor.
“The antidote to this is that this government is committed to doing all we can to make Nigerian economy grow and achieve rapid, sustained and inclusive growth.
“I cannot do this alone. There has to be team network and, of course, legislators, the senators, have a key role to play,” he said.
President Tinubu also tasked the National Assembly to be committed, as they are known for and ensure that the 2024 Budget is considered, passed and signed before December 31, 2023.
In his welcome remarks, Professor Abubarkar Sulaiman, said the retreat would strengthen measures to deepen legislature–executive relationships and address issues of insecurity which have hampered meaningful development in the country.
Professor Sulaiman is the organiser of the retreat and Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
He said: “Painstaking efforts have been made to ensure that all relevant topics that touch on the economy, globally and nationally were included.
“Also the 8-point agenda of the president, alignment of the legislative agenda with the programs of the executive, security as well as electoral reforms are major areas that will also be discussed.”
