Address by the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator (Dr) David A.B Mark, Gcon, Fnim, Fnipr at the Resumption of Senate Plenary after the Christmas and New Year Recess on Tuesday, 21st January, 2014.
Protocol:
1. My Distinguished Colleagues, Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
2. I give thanks to God Almighty for His protection during the Christmas and New Year recess, and I am glad that we are all back hale and hearty to resume our legislative duties.
3. I do hope that we all managed to get some rest amid the usual flurry of activities that marks the season and the inevitable interactions and engagements with our various constituents.
4. At this moment in time however, my thoughts and prayers go to Distinguished Senator Magnus Abe, who we hear was injured in the commotion that erupted during a political event in Port-Harcourt. When this incident was brought to my knowledge, I immediately directed the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs to make some preliminary findings and report back to me. As soon as he does, I will make the findings available to Senators. I also directed the Senate Leader and the Deputy Senate Leader to visit Senator Abe in London.
In the same vein, I mandated the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media, to issue a statement condemning the violence and thuggery. I have also instructed the Senate Committees on Air Force and Police Affairs to investigate the incidents involving Senator Ali Ndume in Borno State and Senator Gbenga Obadara in Ogun State respectively.
5. As we resume today, we will soon realize that it is not only our legislative responsibilities that will task our wisdom. Pervasive political tension arising from festering political disputes continues to engage the larger polity. Across the nation, governance appears to have been sacrificed on the altar of desperate political manoeuvres and feverish permutations aimed at out-flanking one another ahead of the 2015 elections. Blinded by naked ambition, the political class has so painfully forgotten the lessons of our national history, and has once again allowed the collision of vaulting personal ambitions to overheat the polity and undermine governance. Coming at a time when our nation is still transiting amid tremendous strains and enormous social and economic challenges, the emphasis on primordial politics at the expense of governance is irresponsible, and even dangerous. I have said this several times and even at the risk of sounding like a broken record, let me once again caution against provocative utterances.
6. But here in the Senate, how we ride the challenge, and not let it deflect our focus from our constitutional responsibilities and our duty to our nation, will be a measure of our maturity as elder statesmen and women, democrats and patriots.
Our nation is watching to see whether distinguished Senators will uphold the dignity of this institution and their oath of office, or whether we will allow ourselves to become mere tools in factional political disputes and intra-party rows. In fragile and young democracies such as ours, the cause of democracy is vastly served when statesmen and women refuse to sell the truth to serve the hour. Living true to our conscience as elder statesmen and women as well as distinguished Senators is the challenge of this very hour. And it is a challenge that will define the social and political fabric of Nigeria.
7. The leadership which we as Senators have always collectively offered compels us now to brace for these obvious political challenges, and to insist, as we have always done, on the primacy of the interest of the nation, and the welfare of our people.
8. Our collective resolve, and our example as Senators of the Federal Republic, should serve as a powerful reminder to the political class that democracy's fundamental raison d'être is to free the average citizen from the bonds of poverty, deprivation, disease and want. Our compatriots desire a society where every citizen, irrespective of tribe or class, is availed a socio-economic and political space that dispenses access to resources, privileges, and opportunities in a fair and just measure. The political class will certainly be judged by how far this ideal is attained, not by how much we ingratiate ourselves, advance our political careers or flaunt the panoply of high office.
9. Therefore, Distinguished colleagues, whether in or out of this chamber, we must lead by the force of our personal example. We must remain courageous and continue to demonstrate a clear and instinctive inclination for patriotism, self sacrifice, mature and responsible leadership.
10. We are the members of an institution deliberately designed by our Constitution to balance the nation and to stabilize our polity. We live true to this creed, and to this constitutional responsibility, only when we rise above narrow and parochial considerations not only in our thoughts and words but also in our actions.
11. Tribes and tongues may differ, and the sands of political allegiances may shift, but this chamber unites us, first and foremost as Senators of the Federal Republic, all sworn to promote the peace, order and good governance of our nation. Accordingly, our thoughts, words and actions should at all times be focused on the search for a better country; a search for peace and unity.
12. Distinguished colleagues, let me emphasize that we have just six months to the end of this legislative year. But we resume plenary to be confronted at once with a legislative agenda filled to the apex with unfinished legislative business. Lined up, and demanding immediate and prompt consideration, are the 2014 Appropriation bill, the Petroleum Industry Bill, Customs (Amendment) Bill, Pensions Reforms (Amendment) Bill, further review of the Electoral Act, the harmonization of the Senate and House positions on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) amongst several other bills.
13. In line with the imperatives of collaborative governance and fiscal responsibility, we will immediately commence the consideration of the budget estimates in a most robust and meticulous manner. And inspite of the estimates not arriving as early as we had expected, we will work to see that the 2014 Appropriation bill is passed as quickly as possible.
14. In our evolving democratic practice, the point is now settled that parliament has the power to make inputs when considering Budget estimates. However, in exercising this constitutional power, every parliamentarian must bear in mind that an annual budget sets out an administration's economic and social vision, and the fiscal means of attaining it. Parliamentary inputs should therefore reinforce and complement that vision. The executive arm should never and must not interpret this to mean a distortion of the budget.
15. Once the 2014 budget is passed and signed into law, we will swiftly activate the weapon of oversight to drive for full implementation, and to insist on accountability, probity and transparency. We will not wring our hands in apathy and bemoan the lethargic implementation of the budget amid infrastructural decay and economic dysfunction. We will certainly work to ensure that the developmental goals underpinning the budget are fully realized.
16. Let me place on record once more my appreciation of the somberness, insight, wisdom, patriotism, and dedication with which you have always discharged your constitutional duties.
But pardon me if despite our strenuous efforts, I still ask more from you as we prime ourselves to face the items on the loaded legislative agenda, and as we continue to balance the polity. The challenges call for a definite improvement on our time consciousness, diligence and vigour.
17. I am personally deeply pained and troubled by the strings of sordid revelations recently emerging even from high places. As a parliament, we will not prejudge the veracity or otherwise of these revelations. But every charge, every allegation or revelation of corruption, challenges parliament to be alert and to rededicate itself to its oversight responsibilities.
18. The Constitution has charged us with the responsibility of exposing corruption in the administration of laws within our legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by us. It is a solemn responsibility that we should continue to live up to. However, whistleblowers must be prepared to back up their allegations with hard facts, and to substantiate them when called upon to do so.
19. Distinguished colleagues, as we resume today, the Senate salutes the forbearance of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) in calling off the strike. It is our sincere hope that the conditions which allow protracted strikes to occur in any sector at all are quickly addressed, and eliminated.
As with the case of the ASUU strike, the Senate will always invest the full weight of its moral and constitutional authority to help stave off further industrial actions, even before they occur and to wade in to resolve them when they inevitably occur.
20. In the spirit of the accommodation which the Federal Government has struck with ASUU, the grievances of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) should similarly be looked into, and quickly resolved. Compromise and flexibility from both sides will help the ongoing efforts to resolve the stalemate.
21. We commend the Super eagles for their performance in the ongoing 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN). Our prayer is that the team should bring the cup home.
22. Our nation is so immensely blessed in every ramification that every stratum should be made to believe in the promise which tomorrow surely brings. This Senate will at all times stand by the people, with the people and for the people.
23. Distinguished Colleagues, let me once again thank you all for your dedication and past sacrifices. I welcome you back to this chamber and wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2014.
Senator (Dr.) David A.B. Mark, GCON, fnim, fnipr
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE