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Give priority to budget implementation:Mark tells Jonathan
Newsdiaryonline Tue Dec 13, 2011
Mark
May I on behalf of my distinguished and honourable colleagues
humbly and warmly welcome you and your entourage to this joint
session of the National Assembly.
We are delighted to have you with us this afternoon as you
perform one of your constitutional responsibilities.
Over the years, we have listened to very beautiful and
impressive budget speeches eloquently delivered in this chamber.
Unfortunately, the implementation has not matched the words as
economic policies often lack continuity and projects are
needlessly discarded or abandoned.
We have what it takes to be a great nation or a world power. But
we have never challenged ourselves sufficiently over the years
to attain this desired goal. It is our hope and sincere belief
that this budget will challenge us; and to take the challenge we
must tighten our belts. To do so we must ensure that all sectors
and every Nigerian irrespective of position or status is
involved. Let me remind us that in 2011 the Legislature led the
way in reducing our overhead and recurrent expenditure in order
to increase investment in capital expenditure and to lead by
example.
We must lay emphasis on critical infrastructure, reduce revenue
leakages, grow the economy, generate employment, encourage local
production and promote made-in Nigeria goods.
We on our part will ensure the comprehensive implementation of
the 2012 budget to the letter through our oversight functions.
Let this budget be the one that will say “let there be light,
and there is light; let there be roads and there are roads; let
there be water, and there is water; let there be employment and
there is employment; let there be medicare and it is so; and let
there be food and there is food.
With these few remarks, it is now my honour and privilege to
invite Mr President to deliver his speech and lay the 2012
budget proposals in accordance with Section 81 of the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
Thank you and may the good Lord bless us all...
Mr President,
BEING ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY,
HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR (DR.) DAVID A. B. MARK, GCON, fnim,
TO THE JOINT SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON THE
PRESENTATION OF THE 2012 BUDGET PROPOSALS BY THE PRESIDENT OF
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN,
GCFR.
Th
This is the document referred to in the Witness
Statement on Oath of Clifford O. Kokogho as
“Exhibit
COK.2”
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