Oil sector reform, jobs creation, my priority – Saraki

The newly-elected Pres- ident of the 8th Sen- ate, Bukola Saraki, has promised to make oil sector reform, jobs creation his priority as he assumes Number Three seat in the country.

The two-time governor of Kwara State made this known while delivering his accep- tance speech shortly after he was sworn-in as Senate President.

He said the 8th Senate would make laws that would create more job opportunities and reposition major sectors of the economy particularly the oil sector.

While thanking his col- leagues for electing him, he promised to be just, equitable and fair.

He said his election had demonstrated that Nigerians were now more interested in entrenching the tenets of democracy than clinching to political parties.

He said: “I am most hon- oured and privileged to be elected to serve as President of the Senate.I accept with hu- mility and respect the honour you have conferred upon me.

“I want to thank all mem- bers of the National Assembly for the maturity and patrio- tism in the exercise we have just concluded in electing the leadership of the 8th Senate.

“As the President of the 8th Senate, I shall be guided by the enormity of the responsibili- ties that this moment imposes on all of us.

This new senate must make laws that will make doing business in Nigeria more competitive”.

Saraki thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for re- maining steadfast in his de- fense of the right of the Na-
tional Assembly to choose its own leaders.

He added that President Bu- hari’s position had laid a solid foundation for the stability of the 8th National Assembly.

He said that this was the time for the Nigerian people to enjoy the change that they had voted for and tasked his colleagues on legislative inde- pendence.

“The change that our peo- ple voted for is a change from a life of poverty, misery to a life of prosperity, happiness, secu- rity and comfort, accountabil- ity and respect for democracy.

“This is a change that all of us in the National Assembly must strive to justify as Nige- rians want to see a proactive National Assembly.

“It will be my responsibility to protect the independence of the legislature in the overall interest of our democracy. Our quest for autonomy must not lead us into pursuing adverse relations with other arms of government.

“In the coming days, we shall be converging to hammer out an agenda that will help us focus and deliver on the mini- mum expectations”, he said.

He thanked former Presi- dent of the Senate, David Mark, for the uncommon leadership, which he had provided in the last eight years, which led to the stability of the Senate.

Saraki charged that the Na- tional Assembly to defend the confidence reposed in them by Nigerians in their service to the nation.

The Senate thereafter, ad- journed to Wednesday, June 10, 2015.

Saraki emerged unopposed as Senate President by 57 sena- tors, while other Senators were said to be at a planned meet- ing of the APC which failed to hold.

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja