NAN-H-71
Nigerians
By Cecilia John
Abuja, Dec. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi on Friday said that the Senate was not indifferent to the plight of the poor as perceived by some Nigerians.
The spokesperson to the Senate made this known at a one-day Legislative and Media Roundtable, with the theme, “Media Focus Pro-poor Issues in the Legislature’’, organised by Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) in Abuja.
He said the Senate since its inception in 2015, had passed 104 bills, adding that the focus of the 8th Senate on pro poor legislation was to entrench the principles of democracy.
This, he said includes executive bills, private members bills, and bills for concurrent from House of Representatives.
According to him, out of the 104, 11 pro-poor bills have been prioritised to bring succour to poor Nigerians.
`Also, the sSenate has amended the Public Procurement Act to promote patronage of `made in Nigeria products’, which has a positive impact on the economy and acts as a means of alleviating poverty.’’
The lawmaker noted that the Senate also moved 150 motions that concentrated on unfair treatment of citizens, security, employment, and education infrastructural development among others.
“The legislature is doing a lot to provide legislations that will impact on the lives of the people.
“As we all know, democracy is meant to guarantee good life for people by ensuring economic growth, poverty alleviation and the Senate is very mindful of this and will continue to play its role in this regard.
“Our tools of engagement to actualising this in the National Assembly are use of the Constitution, Senate Rules, the Legislative Agenda, discussions at plenary sessions, committee meetings with stakeholders, oversight and many others.
He assured that the Senate would continue to take necessary legislative steps to address national economic challenges, poverty, corruption, leakages in revenue, infrastructure decline, and security challenges among others. (NAN)
CJM/EEE
=======
Edited by Ese E. Ekama