Senate Under Me Will Have an Open Budget – Saraki Pledges

One of the leading contenders for the Senate Presidency, Senator Bukola Saraki has said he will put an end to the secrecy that has shrouded the budget of the national Assembly, the upper chambers in particular, for years if he becomes its president.

According to the senator representing Kwara Central at the National Assembly, there is need for more transparency at the legislative arm of government in other to bridge the existing gap between the governed and the legislators.

Mr. Saraki who made his intentions known in an interview with Premium Times said:  We have to be more open and transparent; we have to make sacrifices.

“Under me you can definitely see these things happen because if you talk to other Senators, you will see that, that is where everybody is today. People are willing and ready to make sacrifices and as the apex chamber, we would lead by example”



There has been calls for the management of the National Assembly to make public the budget of the upper and lower chambers but there has been no response from the legislators over the years.

In a new dispensation, largely perceived as the change era, Nigerians are expectant of a more transparent and open NASS and senator Saraki thinks so too.

He said: Times have changed, it’s not just about the National Assembly. After the last election, the whole country has changed and we cannot continue to do things like before.

“It is a no brainer. Anyone that is not ready to change will just find themselves by the side. I have been at the forefront of this, saying that we can’t continue with business as usual.

“I have been doing that consistently since 2011 go and check. I saw where the country was heading and I shouted, some thought it was about ambition, it was never about ambition; it was about us doing the right thing.

“I am not ready for us to lose sight of all these promises we made to the Nigerian people. There are things that we must have to change, there is no alternative.”