ABUJA – Senate of the Federal Republic yesterday, also constituted Finance and 18-Man Legislative Agenda Ad Hoc Committees to coming up with the best cost-effective regime in the 8th Senate and deliver sound report that will shape the course of the 8th Senate respectively.
The members of the Finance Committee include: Senators Ali Ndume (APC Borno North), Ahmed Sani (APC Zamfara West), Shaaba Lafiagi (APC Kwara North), Sonni Ogbuoji (PDP Ebonyi South), and James Manager (PDP Delta South) .
Others are Senators Gbenga Ashafa (APC Lagos East), Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West) and Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East).
Members of the Legislative Agenda Committee are Senators Babajide Omoworare (APC Osun East), Duro Faseyi (PDP Ekiti North), Tayo Alasoadura (APC Ondo Central), Sonni Ogbuoji (PDP Ebonyi South) and Uche Ekwunife (PDP Anambra Central).
Others are Senators Hope Uzodinma (PDP Imo West), Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP Bayelsa East), George Sekibo (PDP Rivers East), John Enoh (PDP Cross River Central), Mohammed Hassan (Yobe South) and Ali Ndume (APC Borno North).
Other members include Senators Binta Garba (APC Adamawa North), Kabiru Gaya (APC Kano South), Shehu Sani (APC Kaduna Central), Bala Na’Allah (APC Kebbi South), David Umoru (APC Niger East) and Joshua Dariye (PDP Plateau Central).
The Senate thereafter adjourned to July 21.
Performing the inauguration, Senate President Bukola Saraki enumerated the objectives and mission of the legislative agenda committee to include: Increasing the institutional capacity of the Senate; Building a legislative autonomy & strengthening the committee system; Oversight functions; Extensive representation and outreach; Stakeholder and civil society involvement; Implementation, monitoring and evaluation; Reduction Running Cost; and Effective Legislative support System.
“This committee is saddled with the responsibility of charting a renewed course for the 8th Senate, will be doing so in total recognition of the works of yesterday, the difficulties of today and the challenges of tomorrow”, he added.
On the Finance Committee, the Senate President explained that the “committee is mandated to carry out thorough fiscal examination on the senate finances with the aim of coming up with the best cost-effective regime in the 8th Senate”.
He noted that the subject of reduction in cost of governance has been a sensitive matter on the front burner of national issues in the polity especially with regards to the Legislature.
“While much of this could be due to an underlining ambiguity in the monthly salaries of legislators and their allowances, there still persists the need to project clarity, accountability and transparency in all legislative matters and legislators’ welfare.
The 8th Senate under our watch recognises the concerns raised by Nigerians about the cost of running office most especially with the economic challenges facing our nation.
The senate will be more transparent regarding all public funds spent for the purpose of paying salaries and allowances of legislators and ensure that distinction is sufficiently made between what a legislator actually earns and what is spent to run and implement legislative business and committee activities. The watchword in our financial issues will be fiscal conservatism”.
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