Inauguration Of Standing Committees: Senator Saraki Declares Senate’s Readiness To Deliver Dividends Of Democracy

The seven standing committees of the Senate received a charge on Wednesday to hit the ground running in view of the need to reposition the economy.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, who gave the charge while inaugurating the committees, also urged them to come up with new methods in the discharge of their oversight functions.

The committees inaugurated and their chairmen are: Appropriation – Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe Central), Finance – John Enoh (PDP-Rivers Central), Banking, Insurance and other financial institutions – Rafiu Ibrahim (APC-Kwara North), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – Abubakar Kyari (APC-Borno North).

Others are: Committees on Public Accounts – Andy Uba (PDP- Anambra South), National Security and Intelligence – Sha’aba Lafiagi (APC-Kwara South), Communications – Gilbert Nnaji (PDP-Enugu East).

Senate President Saraki tasked them on observing ethical standard in the discharge of their duties just as he threatened to deal with any committee found wanting in the discharge of its functions.

“Senate will continue to support the committees particularly in terms of funding. We are also assuring government institutions of our readiness to work with them in order to deliver the dividend of democracy to Nigerians”, he said.

Saraki said that the Ad hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda would be charged with the responsibility of monitoring the performance of the committees.

He added, “INEC committee should ensure that the gains of democracy are not eroded. They must ensure that there is improvement in our elections moving forward.

“For the Finance Committee, Nigerians are expecting us to lead the fight against financial recklessness and block leakages”.

The Senate president stressed the need for the committee on Security to ensure that security agents are adequately catered for to ensure that the mistakes of the past do not recur again.

Saraki assured that the Senate would not relent in its effort to ensure that Nigerians enjoyed the dividend of democracy.