Page 5 final

Page 5 final

Senators: Lack of funds hindering our jobs

By Ismail Mudashir

Senators yesterday told the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, that lack of funds was hindering the discharge of their legislative duties.

The senators spoke at yesterday’s plenary while responding to questions by Saraki on why they were having challenges in submitting reports on bills before them.

Saraki had expressed concern that the reports on bills that had scaled through the second reading were hanging at the committees.

“Twenty four reports of committees on bills are yet to be submitted many weeks after passed second reading. This is unacceptable, “he said.

Responding to Saraki’s query, the Chairman of the Committee on Land Transport, Senator Gbenga Ashafa(APC, Lagos East) said his committee could not organise a public hearing following the delay in the release of funds.

“It is paucity of funds because up till now we cannot hold our public hearing and without it we cannot write our report, “he said.

Also, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim (APC, Katsina South) said there was no fund for his committee to carry out its functions.

Responding, Saraki said money would be provided to enable the committees perform their functions effectively. “We will address the issue of funds immediately but for some of the committees that theirs has nothing to do with funds let them make their reports available on time,” he said.