SENATE PRESIDENCY: Determined Ndume releases 9-point agenda

Former Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume has released a list of nine things he hoped to achieve should he be elected the President of the Nigerian Senate.

Ndume, who remained adamant that he would run for the position in defiance of the position of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, promised to make the office of the Senate President less attractive by reducing some of the privileges attached to it.

The Borno Senator’s nine point agenda is.contained in a pamphlet he distributed to journalists at the National Assembly on Tuesday, adding that he would ensure that there was an improvement on the performance of the 8th Senate in the 9th Senate.

The Senator, who has vowed to dare the National Working Committee of the APC over the endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan for the position, also pledged to uphold the Independence of the Legislative arm of government, hoping to “work harmoniously and inter-dependently with the Executive without undermining the principle of Separation of Power.”

He also promised to prioritize and ensure the passage of the Constituency Development Bill to make “Constituency projects more transparent, accountable, efficient and effective.”

Continuing, Ndume said with the cooperation and synergy of other senators-elect, the Senate will agree on timeline for confirmation, passage of bills especially the annual budgets which he said will not exceed 90 days from the day of submission.

“To make laws that will block leakages, I will devise improved means of generating revenue, especially through the amendment and review of our tax laws which will help reduce reliance on local and foreign loans to finance budget.

“To run the 9th Senate transparency, through open accountability with full participation of all Senators, we will transfer the approving powers of the privileges of the senators like foreign travels, allowances to Senate Services Committee or a new committee to be known as” ways and means committee .”

Despite going against the position of the party, Ndume also promised thay as Senate President, he would uphold the party’s principles and policies, adding that his Presidency will make laws and review existing ones to be in tandem with APC’s Next Level Agenda for Nigeria.