SENATOR Olugbenga Ashafa has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to transmit the 2017 budget estimates to the National Assembly in good time, while assuring that the Senate is poised to expedite its passage into law without any delay.
Ashafa gave the assurance on Thursday, at the fourth day of the Made-in-Nigeria Summit, which took place at the Eko Atlantic City.
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, had earlier in a report also called on the executive to transmit the 2017 budget estimates to the National Assembly in good time.
The lawmaker, while highlighting some of the efforts of the National Assembly to assist the economy and also encourage more local content in the Nigerian economy, said “the fundamental role of the National Assembly in the area of the economy remains provision of requisite legislative support for both the executive and indeed the Nigerian populace to thrive in their areas of business.”
“The eighth session of the National Assembly is very well aware of the task ahead in this period of economic challenge and we are alive to this responsibility,” he said.
The senator also spoke about the passage of the Nigerian Railway BIll 2016 which was spearheaded by the Senate Committee on Land Transport of which he headed, expressing optimism on how the new law would help open up the rail sector to private sector participation.