Saraki tasks National Assembly management on accountability, transparency

President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has urged National Assembly authorities to be accountable and transparent to enable the legislature support the nation’s efforts at attaining sustainable diversified economy.

Saraki gave the charge on Monday at the opening of a retreat organised for the management staff of the National Assembly in Lokoja, Kogi.

In a statement by Mr Sanni Onogu, his Chief Press Secretary, Saraki said that it was critical for the management to do its best in assisting the 8th Assembly to support the executive in realizing a well-developed and inclusive economy.

“As we all know, this is a critical time for us as a nation. We are going through difficult times, recession, security issues, widespread hunger, unemployment, incessant rises in inflation and dwindling opportunities.

“The nation looks up to the national assembly for direction and to provide opportunities for our people. It has become quite apparent to us that it is no longer business as usual.

“It is against this background that it is imperative that management is fit for the task ahead of us and lives up to its responsibilities.

“The responsibility to deliver coherent, effective and efficient support as we pursue our vision for the development of the Nigerian economy into one of the most diversified and inclusive economies in Africa,” he said.

Saraki commended organizers of the retreat and said that aside being the highest law-making institution in the country the national assembly was more importantly, the enabler of the executive in providing welfare and security for citizens.

“At no time in our history has the need for synergy of purpose and drive to embrace and give full effect to this obligation been more acute than now.

“The present national assembly is fully committed to this obligation and it is in you (management) that we will rely on to play our role effectively,” he said.

He said that management accountability and transparency was paramount and warned that indiscipline and laxity on the part of the workers at the parliament would no longer be tolerated.