By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Senator Ali Wakili has expressed optimism that Nigeria would get out of the current economic recession which is confined not only to Nigeria but a globally.
Wakili, who hinged his belief on the commitment of the Federal Government in ensuring full implementation of the budget through timely release of the capital, said the technical recession recently declared by Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun will soon be over in the country.
The Senator who is representing Bauchi South district at the Red carpet chamber of the National Assembly was Sunday speaking in Bauchi during interview with reporters shortly after distributing motorcycles and tricycles to APC supporters from his constituency.
“Though the issue of the recession is very worrisome but it’s not restricted to Nigeria alone, it’s universal because other country are also experiencing the same, almost all the members of OPEC that are relying on oil are affected by the recession”, he said.
“But we will get out of the recession only with diversification of revenue sources that the federal government is spoiling, and especially in terms of enhanced agricultural production and solid mineral exploitation.
“The Federal Government is committed to the full implementation of the budget through ensuring that capital releases are done so that the economy is boosted, recession will soon be a thing of the past,” he stated.
Senator Ali Wakili urged state governors to ensure the payment of all outstanding salaries to civil servants, saying “If the state governors will do the needy to pay all outstanding salaries, the recession will not unsympathetically be felt”.
The Senator predicated the internal economy of the states on payment of salaries, stressing that if salaries and stipends and salaries are paid regularly, the economy of the states will also pick up.
He therefore appealed to Nigerians to be patience with the government saying nobody is denying that there is hardship in the country, ‘but it will soon be over’.
“We all need to be good citizens and let change begin from each and every one of us like the President had said. We need not to depend on the government alone. We need to go back to backyard farming, poultry, and husbandry because those are the things that sustained our parents and grandparents”.
“As good citizens, we must make sure that things are correctly done. Parents should play role of good moral upbringing to their children; religious leaders should do their best to preach about the kingdom of God. As leaders we must have compassion, pity, fear of God and be accountable to the people,” Wakili said.
On Eid-el kabir celebration, the Senator urged citizens of Bauchi state to live in peaceful coexistence with one another irrespective of religious and ethnic differences.
He also enjoined them to be security conscious during the celebration and avoid anything that could cause bridge of peace in the state.
