2016: Senate pledges transparency

 The Senate on Tuesday at its resumption of plenary has pledged to be more transparent in its dealings while also promising to end unnecessary travels by Senate or its committees.

The President of the Senate Bukola Saraki in an address welcoming the senators from the Christmas and New Year recess said that it was time for the senate to work in the interest of Nigerians.

``Our vision is to substantially enhance the economic wellbeing, liberty and safety of our people.

``It is my earnest hope that the period of recess just concluded has afforded us all more opportunity to reflect on this enormous task ahead as we now enter into the business end of delivering on our agenda.

``Distinguished colleagues, 2016 must be the year of transparency and delivery.

``We must demonstrate to the Nigerian people who put us in office, that we are working in their interest to ensure a progressive and inclusive national development plan.

``The overarching objective of our agenda remains, to work with the Executive arm to find solution to economic stagnation, wastefulness, discrimination, unemployment, insecurity, corruption and impunity.

``Distinguished colleagues, before we proceeded on the end of year recess, we constituted the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitutional Review.

``I would like to urge the committee to consolidate the various items that the 7th Senate had exhaustively considered and passed as key areas to concentrate upon.

``This in my view will ensure that the process isexpedited and the cost reduced significantly in line with our fiscal consolidation objectives.

``In this regards all unnecessary travels and tours should be eliminated,” he said.

``A Senate in slumber cannot meet the aspirations of a restless nation. A Senate sealed from those whom it is accountable to, cannot legitimately ask for their trust.

``2016 must be a year of transparency and delivery,” he said.