[The Legislative Blog]: Once recess is over, recession will be packing its bags too

In a Sallah speech, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has assured Nigerians that upon resumption, the upper chamber will begin drawing up ways to ensure that the economic recession is dealt with till it becomes a thing of the past. He said the senate will focus on the economy. Managers of the economy will be invited to give account to the people, recommendations will be made to the presidency on necessary changes, a legislative framework will be formulated and wide consultations will be made across the private sector. We appreciate these promises but we’re nowhere impressed or excited.

For a lot of reasons, all of these plans the Senate President has reeled out look like the Senate intends to drag the country backward and deeper into the recession than out of it. We already know what must be done to get out of the situation, we expect pragmatic solutions and not months of seatings and long talks. This is the typical Nigerian government-style of tackling issues and look how it has worked for us so far…Do we ever learn?

By managers of the economy, he must mean Kemi Adeosun, Godwin Emefiele and Udo Udoma, the trio whose names have recurred since the recession became official. So we anticipate that they will be invited to the House and will be made to stand before the senators and explain why Nigeria’s economy has done so badly under their watch. Oh please! Save us the story. We already know how we got here and we know all the parts all of you in the House played, so why take us through this?

According to Dr Saraki, the senate will have an exhaustive and comprehensive debate on how to save the economy. A debate? Words and tales will precede action? This may seem a bit farfetched but Australia has gone 25 years without a recession. It would be worth it to take a lesson or two from advanced economies like Australia. They surely didn’t achieve this feat by debates and endless plenary sessions. The mining sector is the mainstay of the Australian economy but as they were quick to realise that digging up resources would not sustain them for much longer, they invested in housing, construction and consumer spending.

Economic experts like the Emir of Kano and former CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and his predecessor, Dr Charles Soludo have proffered practical solutions but the senate president wants to debate and admonishes the rest of us to pray. Really?

Moving on, Dr Saraki also commended Nigerians for their perseverance and understanding. You need to get your facts right, sir. We do not understand what our government is up to and for the umpteenth time, “this is not the change we voted for”. About perseverance, no, Nigerians have had it up to their throats. We’ve persevered through the pain and agony for decades but you probably know nothing about suffering. Olusola Saraki was a wealthy politician.

If the lawmakers cannot deliver as regards this recession, they might as well remain on recess.

 

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