Saraki to Buhari: There’s hardship in Nigeria

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday, told President Muhammadu Buhari, pointblank, during presentation of estimates of the 2017 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, that there is hardship in the country.

Saraki, who doubles as the chairman of the National Assembly, said the purpose of a budget is to ease economic pressure on the people, most especially, the poor in his welcome remarks at the budget presentation session, yesterday.

“The 2017 budget assumes even a greater significance, particularly in this time of recession.

“Mr. President, the feedback we get from visits to our various constituencies is that there is hardship in the land. We can see it and we can feel it. This situation, therefore, commands all of us as government to a greater sense of urgency. We cannot work magic, but we must continue to work the clock.

“Our people must see that the singular pre-occupation of government is the search for solution to the current economic hardship; and the commitment to ease their burden. They don’t want to know what political parties we belong, what language we speak or how we worship God. They have trusted their fates into our hands, and they need us now more than ever, to justify the trust that they have reposed on us.”

“The people of Nigeria will pardon us if we do some things wrong. But, they will not forgive us if we do nothing. And, that is why, Mr. President, the two chambers have taken a position whatever may be our differences, or opinions on issues of the economy, we will all work with one common purpose for this reason.”

The Senate President expressed delight that the 2017 budget presentation was coming early this year than that of 2016.

-Sun News