Contrary to previous practice of elaborate inauguration of committees, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan will on Wednesday inaugurate the 69 standing committees on the floor of the Senate.
Senator Lawan on Tuesday announced the composition of members of the Committees at plenary.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after plenary, Chairman Senate Committee Chairman, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adedayo Adedayo denied insinuation that the 9th Senate took the decision because of paucity of fund.
The former Minister of State for Works said the lawmakers unanimously agreed to shelve the past practice of elaborate inauguration of Committees to save time.
He said: “It isn’t driven by paucity of fund. The Senate President wanted to do it, one by one but we don’t want to waste time, there is plenty of work to do. We want to hit the ground running.
“Rather than spend one week to inaugurate 69 Committees, we decided to do it once. I want you to see it in the light of the urge of the 9th Assembly to work for the nation. So, the reason isn’t paucity of fund; we want to save time.”
Earlier at plenary, Senator Lawan said the Senate was determined to reform the petroleum industry being the nation’s livewire.
He said the same attention would be given the nation security in view of the pervasive threat of insurgency, kidnapping and ethnic strife. He gave the assurance in his opening remarks at the plenary.
He said: “The Petroleum Industry is long overdue for reform. Several efforts and attempts were made in the past three sessions of the National Assembly but they were unfortunately not successful.
“It, however, remains a legislation that should succeed. We are going to renew and redouble our efforts at the reform, by doing things differently this time.
“The previous efforts were lone efforts either on the part of the executive, as witnessed in the sixth and seventh sessions of the National Assembly, or the part of the legislature, as seen in the eighth session.
“Perhaps an early consultation and collaboration between the two arms of government will yield the desired outcome in the overriding national interest.
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“Our priority is to have an oil industry that is functional and productive, in a fair, just and transparent environment.
On insecurity, the President of the Senate demanded for review of the nation’s security architecture as a way forward.
“The spate of kidnapping, ethnic conflicts, rural and highway banditry, herdsmen and farmers’ conflict and cattle rustling in the land are disturbing to the senate.
“It is time we probably review our security architecture. The 8th session of the senate set up an adhoc committee to review the security arrangement of the country.
“We will revisit the report of the committee in addition to making new efforts at finding solutions to the security challenges presently facing our nation.
“We commend our security agencies for working hard to tackle these challenges. We cannot, however, overemphasize the need for collaboration amongst them.
“Other than adequate funding, we might need some structural changes to enable them to perform at the optimum. We must strengthen the agencies to make them more efficient.”
Lawan said the 9th Assembly under his chairmanship will maintain its independence by challenging the executive to work through oversight functions.
“For this reason, the committees remain a critical arm of legislative duties in maintaining checks and balance.
“In working with the Executive especially, the maintenance of our independence shall be a guiding philosophy. Our complimentary role as an arm of government can be best done if we are truly separate.
“Independence is, however, not about confrontation and aggression, but about proper checks and balances, for good governance.
“It is about productive use of our constitutional powers to get the other arms of government to be equally responsive. In working together, our relationship should be based on mutual respect, cooperation, coordination, consultation and partnership. Together we will engender unity, faith, sustainable peace and the desired progress in our dear country.
“Pursuant to the above-distinguished colleagues, we now have to set the ball rolling on confronting our challenges through diligent law-making, effective representation and thorough over sighting.
“Distinguished colleagues, I shall say again that this resumption is a time for action. It is time to proceed on key issues of governance. Our committees shall be our engine rooms. We will do all that is possible to improve their operational efficiency.”
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