Lawan: Battle for Senate President not a do-or-die affair

Senate Leader, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday said his battle for the Senate Presidency is not a do-or-die affair.

He also unfolded plans to devote three months to budget consideration if he is elected as the Senate President.

He said he will ensure the 9th National Assembly returns the nation to January-December budget timeline.

He said an effective budget cycle will be put in place in a manner that President Muhammadu Buhari will assent to budget on or before December 31st.

Lawan unfolded his plans when he met with Bureau Chiefs in Abuja against the backdrop of fierce contest for Senate Presidency.

He said: “The simple answer is it is not. We contested for this thing in 2015 and it was the will of God that I will not be Senate President and you will bear me witness that that did not stop me from going to the National Assembly to participate in activities of the Senate.

“I continued to represent my people as a committee Chairman on Defence and I conducted myself as such and eventually I was elected the Senate leader and I continued to serve as Senate leader to date.

“Most of us believe that God Almighty that created us also has designed our lives from cradle to grave and I believe in that.

“So, it is not a do or die affair and I believe that should we not make it, that will not stop us from working to represent our people, do our oversight, to legislate for the good governance of this country, to support the Senate and the National Assembly and to support Mr. President to deliver the campaign promises of the APC as a political party.  We are going to do that regardless. So, it is not a do -or- die affair.

On budgeting crisis in Nigeria, Lawan pledged to resolve it with a three-month consideration plan.

Read Also: Every senator will count under my watch – Lawan

He said out of the three months, a month will be devoted to budget defence by Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He added: “Even though the budgeting issue varies from time to time, sometimes the crisis may be for three months, four months and sometimes seven months.

“We believe that we can turn this around with the right attitude and it takes the two sides of government in this case the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government.

“Our approach in the National Assembly will be that we will talk amongst ourselves, we will tell ourselves that we want to pass a budget within three months.  If we agree on that, then we will also have to agree on how we will achieve that.

“First, we should not leave the Shores of Nigeria for anything unless it is health problem. We must stay around, ensure we have a timeframe for budget defence.

“When I say timeframe, I mean we will devote one whole month for budget defence, not plenary unless it becomes absolutely necessary.

“We will approach the Executive arm of government and discuss things with them.

“For Mr. President, there will be nothing more that will gladden his heart than having a budget passed within three months and I am sure it is the same for Nigerians.

“It will be a huge relief if we can achieve it. So, we will tell the Executive arm of government that no Minister, no chief executive officer of any MDA should leave this country unless it is absolutely necessary and inevitable without defending his or her budget or the budget of the ministry.

“That one month window should be the only window for budget defence. If any Minister or any chief executive officer fails without cogent reasons to defend the budget of the ministry, then that window will be shut and the National Assembly should treat that proposal as it deems fits with all the necessary safeguards to ensure that there is no abuse.

“After the budget defence, we should have two solid months to have all the analysis we need,  all the subcommittee will meet for their defence with the sub-committees in the House and the Senate and it is our hope and desire that before the Christmas break of the National Assembly,  the budget should be sent to Mr. President  for assent.

“We believe that this is doable and achievable. All we require is the will. I am sure every one of us in the 9th Senate and House of Representatives will have this kind of feeling that what we need to give to Nigerians is to set this budget issue right.”

He went on: “In fact, we should attempt to make the budget cycle  1st January- 31st December because this is important for our businesses in this country and outside Nigeria.

“We should have 12 calendar month of budget presentation because that will translate into massive infrastructure development, provision of services across the country for citizens. So, this is the way we intend to go”.

Responding to a question, Lawan said: “Our mission is to have a Senate and the National Assembly that work for Nigerians.

“What do Nigerians want today? They want to have an improvement in the security of their lives; an economy that works for everyone and they want corruption brought down to its knees. Nigerians want to live in peace with one another.”

Concerning transparency and the independence of the legislature, Lawan added: “I believe that we have to work together with the Executive with mutual respect and address the challenges that confront Nigerians today.

“Where we differ, we are going to resolve such issues in a very credible and respectful manner.

“We are not going to go into the market square to throw stones recklessly and we believe that there is interdependence between both arms and such would be respected

“We believe the openness which has been introduced by National Assembly should be continued and that would make us to function as representatives properly.”