As part of the efforts of the House of Representatives to ensure that
Nigeria exits its current economic recession and alleviate the hardship
caused by the recession, Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday inaugurated a
tactical committee on Economic Recession.
The commitee, comprising of 16 erudite professionals with vast experience
in economics and sundry issues, is to monitor the various steps and
policies of the Government aimed at taking Nigeria out of Recession.
While delivering a speech at the inauguration at the National Assembly,
Dogara said the technical committee of the House will craft “enduring
legislative tools to be deployed in helping policy makers and implementors
adhere to timelines in their drive to exit recession and return Nigeria to
sustainable economic growth and prosperity.”
He expressed dismay that, “today, some of our people can no longer afford
to feed. Some school children are dropping out of school due to inability
of parents to pay school fees. Transportation, power, healthcare are
difficult for the ordinary citizen. There is general anguish on the faces
of Nigerians due to poverty and hunger.
“We cannot, however, continue to lament. The problems are well known. At
this point in time, it is the solutions that matters more and that is what
should engage our attention. As a parliament, we are committed to ensuring
that the sufferings experienced by ordinary Nigerians are alleviated.
These challenges may appear too difficult to surmount but the good news is
that they are surmountable. Other nations have surmounted greater economic
challenges in the past and Nigeria’s case cannot be different.”
The Speaker noted that what Nigeria needs at this point in time is
solutions to the problems of the economy and added that, “As a parliament,
we are committed to ensuring that the sufferings experienced by ordinary
Nigerians are alleviated. These challenges may appear too difficult to
surmount but the good news is that they are surmountable. Other nations
have surmounted greater economic challenges in the past and Nigeria’s case
cannot be different.”
“We in the National Assembly have aligned with the executive arm of
government to turn around the economy by focusing on priorities that will
make maximum impact on economic recovery and respectable growth. As
partners in progress, the National Assembly had in 2016 offered wide
ranging legislative and other economic ideas and solutions to the
Executive in a concurrent Resolution of both Chambers. Senate Resolution
(S/Res./018/02/16) and House Resolution (HR.107/2016) refers.”
He recalled that the decision to partner with the executive to tackle the
recession is in line with keeping with his promise during the inauguration
of this 8th Assembly on the 9th of June, 2015, when he said, “we as a
parliament can only justify the confidence of our people by keeping faith
with our duties of Law making, Representation and Oversight of the
Executive arm of government. However, in spite of our responsibility for
checking and balancing the Executive, good governance can only be effected
when all arms of government are working in harmony and partnership to
bring about the CHANGES voted for by Nigerians on March 28, 2015”.
“In a similar vein, we affirmed that the centre point of our legislative
agenda will be to collaborate with the various arms of government and the
Senate to legislate for the common good of the Nigerian citizens with
emphasis on reforms that will promote rapid national economy growth and
development, tackle poverty, unemployment…. Indeed our major legislative
initiative was to support diversification of Nigeria’s economy to foster
its development from mono product economy to an economy with a diversified
base.
“To this end, we introduced Sectoral Debate on various aspects of the
economy as a legislative initiative to address the national economic
problems.
This sectoral debate was held with relevant heads of Ministries,
Departments, and Agencies of government who briefed the House on concrete
plans to take the country out of economic recession.”