Date: 2018-06-10

The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Ahmad has commended the 8th National Assembly under the leadership of its Chairman and President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON for unprecedented achievements, despite the challenges it had to contend with in the last 3 years.

Ahmad, in a congratulatory message issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Shuaib Abdulkadir to commemorate the 8th Legislature's 3rd anniversary at the weekend noted that under Saraki, the Senate especially has passed the highest number of Bills since the return of Nigeria to democratic rule.

He said that the Bills passed have had great impact on Nigerians and tremendously assisted the present administration in propelling the country out of her recent economic challenges.

"Some of these bills have no doubt helped the nation out of economic recession, propel small enterprises such as the revolutionary Companies and Allied Matters Bill 2018, protection and enhancement of the well-being of children, women and other vulnerable segment of the Society, like the National Child Protection and Enforcement Bill and hundreds of others", he said.

Ahmad stressed that the Senate President's quality leadership has ensured success in deepening democracy through the steering of the affairs of the legislature as an independent arm of government.

The speaker ,who commended the Senate for being impactful by touching on major sectors of the country, recalled that the Red Chamber has also provided legal and constitutional framework for youth engagement, such as the Not Too Young To Run Bill recently assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The bifurcated initiation, passage and signing of constitutional amendments, especially granting financial independence to State legislative houses and State judiciary, is an innovation of the 8th Assembly and will have far-reaching consequences for transparency in governance. For so long, attention has been on the centre, now states must brace up to be accountable.

Ahmad stated that Senator Saraki's intervention in resolving several national issues have undoubtedly enhanced the nation's stability, saying that posterity would judge him right as one of the best Senate Presidents.

" Senator Saraki recently demonstrated his patriotic zeal and commitment to the country by assisted in resolving the suffocating Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU)/Federal Government labour dispute to save many Nigerians with health challenges from dying unnecessarily", he said.

While enjoining Nigerians to show more support to the Senate and its leadership, the Speaker maintained that it was crystal clear that with adequate support from every stakeholder, the 8th Senate was bound to achieve more for the good of the country.

According to him, "the cheap blackmail and propaganda against the Senate and its leadership will lead to nowhere. The achievements recorded within the 3years are very glaring for Nigerians to see. History will forever be kind to the 8th Senate.

The Senate has been living up to expectations as the masses' representative by operating independently as enshrined in the 1999 constitution".

Ahmad was optimistic that the 8th Senate, in its next legislative session, will achieve more successes in deepening democracy in the country.