The President of 9th Assembly senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawal applauds all the people involved in the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
Lawal made this known during his opening speech at the red chambers today 29th when the Lawmakers resumed from their annual recessed
The speech read:
My Opening Speech At The Resumption of Senate Plenary on Tuesday, 29 September 2020
PROTOCOL
Distinguished Colleagues, I heartily welcome us all back from our Annual Recess. This Recess, unlike the previous ones, was observed in the period of the COVID-19 Pandemic. All of us were largely involved in different undertakings to provide interventions and reliefs to the myriad of challenges brought about by the pandemic in our various Senatorial Districts. I commend us all for being responsive. You will recall that all distinguished Senators have donated Fifty percent (50%) of their salaries to the national efforts at fighting the pandemic for the entire period of the COVID-19 Pandemic in our country. I must also commend us all for this show of compassion and empathy.
The pandemic is still very much with us. W, therefore,e need to continue to work with the Health authorities in the education, enlightenment,nt, and sensitization of our people, on the need to observe the protocols established by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and other relevant authorities.
Let me take this opportunity to commend the PTF and our health workers at all levels of government for the great job they have been doing since the outbreak of the pandemic in our country.
I also commend our various committees for undertaking oversights during the Recess. These oversights are necessary activities of this Senate to ensure that the Executive implements government programs and projects with efficiency and effectiveness. Also worthy of our commendation is the engagement of our Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning on the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure,e and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTF/FSP) during the Recess. The Committee interacted with over 300 MDAs over the issues of Revenue Generation and Remittances to the Federal Government.
The Joint committee will present reported to the Senate today for consideration. This is a precursor to the presentation of the 2021 Budget Estimates by the Executive Arm of Government soon. I am aware that the Executive will be presenting the 2021 Budget Estimates by next week.
