Nigeria must come up with ways to ensure improved livestock yield and food sufficiency.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan disclosed this on Tuesday during a lecture at the National Defence College in Abuja.
He said that the government must adopt better livestock production methods as practiced in other countries.
Lawan who was the guest lecturer at the event criticized the current practice of migrating animals from the north to the South in search of food, noting that it reduces the value of yield gotten from them.
“This system where animals migrate from the North to the South reduces yield. There are better ways of doing this.
At the end of the day the yield and milk that you’ll get from an animal that is kept in one place is much more than the one you’ll get from one that moves around.”
He further called on leaders across the country to place more emphasis on economic development and national unity.
This he insisted that can be achieved by always respecting the uniqueness of societies by respecting the country’s diversity when implementing economic programmes.
According to him, the National Assembly is working with the executive to ensure “service delivery for the people.”
“He also added that “lawmakers must consider the country’s diversity in their contributions, and they must always embrace a bi-partisan approach in their conducts.”
Lawan also underlined the importance of harmony between the executive and the legislature, insisting that both Chambers must work cordially to ensure that government meets the yearnings of citizens.
“The National Assembly is stronger, more productive and more efficient together if it works in harmony with the executive ensuring mutual respect and partnership. This way service delivery is enhanced and sustained and the citizen gets the best deal.”
He however maintained that even with such cooperation, the National Assembly would not compromise on ensuring the full implementation of the budget by the executive so as not to deny citizens their benefits.
While maintaining that the essence of government is to provide security and other services to the people, Lawan recalled that the 9th National Assembly inherited a system which did not implement the budget.
“The Ninth Assembly inherited a system of budgeting that didn’t allow for full implementation of the budget thereby short changing the people.”
According to him, “the current Assembly had ensured 97 per cent implementation of the 2020 budget 97% already. And we would always insist on getting the right thing done regardless of the position of the executive.”
On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), he disclosed that the legislature is working hand in hand with the executive to ensure that the PIB is passed between April-May 2021.
Commenting on the recent ethnic agitations across the country, the President of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly advocated for strategic political leadership douse ethnic and religious tensions, and to make room for equitable development nationwide.
This is even as he lamented that leadership in the country is difficult because of ethnic and religious colouration Nigerians give to national issues.
“It is unpardonable for anyone to create conspiracy theories around government programmes.
“You could reject government programmes if you have superior ideas and arguments but not to create conspiracy theories around them.
Let me at this point say Nigerians should unite around government programmes for the sake of national development.”
He disclosed that the Senate is working with the ministry of budget and national planning to create a rolling development plan for Nigeria, as an addition to the provisions of the medium term expenditure framework.
While responding to questions from participants, the Senate President explained that efforts must be made by African leaders to adopt a four or five year economic rolling plan that would create conducive environments for private sector participation in job creation.
This he said can be achieved when political parties in the continent adopt all inclusive economic development plans for their countries.
On issues of electoral violence, Lawan called for the setting up of an electoral offences commission to reduce tendencies of electoral violence.
He said when passed in June, the Electoral Act would empower INEC to conduct seamless and transparent election to the satisfaction of stakeholders; as it would also ensure that the 2023 general elections would witness less electoral violence.
