• Mark charges research institutes on path to economic growth
• Ekweremadu urges prayer
SENATE President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday called on Nigerians to join hands with the present administration to make the country great again, by supporting its policies and programmes aimed at restoring full security across the country and revamping the economy.

Saraki, in a New Year message to Nigerians signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, congratulated the people for their resilience and patience especially in the face of daunting economic challenges.

He said that the need for effective collaboration between the people and the Federal Government-led by President Muhammadu Buhari is imperative to overcome the nation’s most pressing socio-economic challenges and to make the nation prosperous once again.

He added that the present government is working to ensure the world stops talking of the potentials of Nigeria and move on to counting the achievements and progress recorded by our country as the true giant of Africa and major player in world politics.

He urged all citizens who are aggrieved over any issue to always explore the various available constitutional means of seeking redress and resolution rather than resorting to means that will create tension and bring benefit to nobody.

Immediate past President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has tasked Nigerian scholars and research institutes to collaborate with government to fashion out a workable blue print to overcome the present economic downturn.

Senator Mark is of the view that the present economic quagmire is a challenge that must of a necessity bring out the best in our research institutes and professionals on the way forward.

‎In his New Year message, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has called on Nigerians to work and pray for the peace and progress of the country in the New Year.

Senator Ekweremadu noted that despite the economic challenges of the moment, Nigeria made tremendous progress in nurturing democracy and preserving the peace and unity of the country.

He said: “There is no doubt that 2015 will be remembered as a defining year for the nation’s democracy and unity. We have to give deserved credit to the Nigerian people whose sense of patriotism ensured that we held successful general elections ‎and an unprecedented and smooth handover of government from one political party to the other.

“As we enter the New Year, therefore, it behooves on all Nigerians, leaders and the led alike ‎to sustain our democratic gains, especially the preservation of the rule of law and the sanctity of the ballot box as these two are the cornerstones of both democracy and stability.”

He said despite the setback in the last constitution amendment exercise, the Senate and indeed the National Assembly were “committed to working with the Nigerian people to strengthen the nation’s constitutional frameworks to promote peace, unity, democracy, good governance, and prosperity.”