Mark promises speedy passage of 2014 budget

By The Citizen

The Senate President David Mark has given the assurance that the National Assembly would ensure a speedy passage of the 2014 Appropriation Bill for it to achieve its set goals.

He gave the assurance in his New Year message to Nigerians on Tuesday.

This was as he also said that the National Assembly, in its legislative activities, would always be guided by the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.

The 2014 budget, it will be recalled, was laid before the federal legislature by the Minister of Finance, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, shortly before the Christmas break.

The Senate President added that whatever will affect the welfare and wellbeing of the people would continue to be the interest and concern of the legislators.

He promised that the National Assembly would synergise and cooperate with other arms of government in service delivery by carrying out its oversight duties.

He saluted Nigerians for their perseverance, resilience and total commitment to the ideals of nationhood in spite of the daunting challenges presently facing the nation.

Senator Mark praised the indomitable spirit of the citizens and urged them to continue to work assiduously for the peace and unity of the country.

He noted that Nigeria remained one of the best nations in the world, 'because I do not know of any other country that is so blessed with human and natural resources. All we need do therefore is to honestly harness these resources for the good of all.'

The security, socio-political and economic challenges, Senator Mark said, were not insurmountable.

He pointed out that other developed nations of the world, at various times, passed through such difficulties.

'The only difference is that the people themselves resolved to identify the problem and proffered a common solution.

'This is what we need in our own case; to reason together like one people and to solve our problems like one people,' he maintained.

Senator Mark counselled the political class against overheating the already charged polity through their actions and inactions as well as utterances, saying that, no matter the level of anger in a man's mind, he should respect the rules of the game and the rights of others.