It’s time to find concrete solutions to nation’s woes, says Saraki

Queries non-implementation of palliatives

It is time to finding lasting solutions to Nigeria’s economic impasse rather than pointing fingers, Senate President Bukola Saraki has cautioned. A statement by his media office quoted him as saying so during a briefing in Ilorin, Kwara State that the National Assembly, on resumption, would tackle the economic crisis with a number of measures, including getting managers of the economy to give account to the people, making tough recommendations to President Muhammadu Buhari on needed changes, formulating necessary legislative framework for recovery as well as consultations across the private sector.

He called for a broader and bolder economic plan with input from the legislative and executive arms of government as well as the private sector and professional groups. All the groups, he said, must work together to put in place interventions that would create additional jobs, strengthen the naira, bring more investments and diversify the economy.

Saraki, who was Special Assistant on Budget Matters to erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo and chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said the economy would be the focus of the Senate when it resumes plenary and throughout its remaining session.

He said: “We are going to have an exhaustive and comprehensive debate on fixing the country’s economy when we resume next week. We understand the pains that Nigerians are feeling and we do not take this for granted.

“Additionally, the Senate intends to invite everybody involved in the management of the economy to address the Nigerian people through the parliament on the steps that are being taken to get us out of this mess. We fully intend to hold all those involved in the economic management of the country accountable.

“However, we will do so in a manner that is transparent and there will be no cover-up. We will make tough recommendations as necessary.”Saraki said it was equally important to begin to interrogate what happened to the measures aimed at cushioning the effects of the recession built into the 2016 budget.

He added: “We need to know why the promises of external borrowing have not materialised, why devaluation has not helped to strengthen the naira, why inflow of foreign currency has continued to dry up and interest rate is still very high. Doing this will help us to understand where we are so that we can determine where exactly we want to go from here,” he queried.