NANS lauds Senate, Saraki for 2017 budget passage, national stability

THE National Association of Nigerian Students has commended the Senate under the leadership of Dr. Bukola Saraki, for expeditious passage of the 2017 appropriation, stressing that the 8th Senate has proved a source socio-political stability in the present dispensation.

NANS President, Comrade Chinoso Obasi in a statement on Sunday in Abuja said the expeditious passage of the budget, despite challenges shows that the Senate leadership understands the plight of Nigerian masses and above all, a source of consolation to Nigerians at this point of great socio-economic challenges.

He said: “NANS feels that the leadership of 8th Senate is a blessing to Nigeria’s democracy given the prevailing political circumstances in the country. Right from the word go, precisely June 9, 2015, ambitious politicians have been seeking ways to distract the national Assembly from the crucial assignment of providing the essential raw materials the Executive arm of government needs to deliver good governance to the people.

“This time around also, when President Muhammadu Buhari is grappling with some minor health challenges, we see unscrupulous politicians making unguarded utterances and heating up the polity unnecessarily.

“In the midst of what would have been a great source of confusion, the Saraki-led National Assembly has provided institutional bulwarks to protect, preserve and promote Nigeria’s hard won democracy by remaining focused in its constitutional responsibilities of law making and oversight.

“We recall that some enemies of democracy had at one time began a campaign of calumny, calling for the abrogation of Nigeria’s National Assembly, a suggestion which, to all intents and purposes simulates a man cutting his nose to spite his face,” he said.

The student body, however, noted that in a clear breach of institutional checks and balances, Nigerians watched as the President of Senate and Chairman of National Assembly was being distracted and dragged to Code of Conduct Tribunal in a demonstration of political vengefulness despite the mounting socio-economic challenges, which the legislature should grapple with through enabling laws.

The statement read in part: “We recall also that during the delayed appointment of cabinet ministers, Senate President Bukola Saraki had to wait way into the night to receive President Buhari’s list of nominees, thereby ensuring that the promise of submitting the names of appointees by September did not fall to the ground.

“It is in recognition of these salient contributions to the steady progress and protection of our democracy that NANS decided to salute Senate President, Dr Saraki and his colleagues, for working assiduously to pass the budget, thereby providing the much needed elixir to ameliorate the shocks of economic depression on the country’s economy.

“As representatives of 40 million Nigerian students, we are happy that the Senate shunned unnecessary distractions to pass the budget, because we bear a greater brunt of economic hardship in the country.

“While we commend the National Assembly for this feat, we use this opportunity to call on the authorities to seek ways of aborting further distractions on the legislature, especially by stopping further trial of the Senate President at the CCT in similar way the Kano committee suspended further probe of the Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi 111.

“Our country is passing through very trying times and only care and circumspection by officers should help the nation navigate its way out of the crossroads.”