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NASS Task Leaders On Economic Dev … Debates Pre-Budget Framework
The Senate yesterday urged the federal, states and local governments
and all leaders in Nigeria to work harder to return Nigeria to economic growth,
sustenance as well as strengthen national unity.
The Senate made the call following the debate on a motion congratulating Nigeria and Nigerians on its 52nd Independence Anniversary sponsored by Sen.Ita Enang (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) and 107 other senators.
Leading the debate, Enang noted with delight that Nigeria
was gradually developing its domestic production capacity as an independent
nation.
Senate President David Mark, who presided over plenary
session, said that for Nigeria to remain one, united nation till date, was a
great achievement.
Mark noted that although the country might not be where it
ought to be, for now, it was making giant strides toward attaining its desired
destination.
The Senate president said that Nigeria needed political will
to take its policies to logical conclusions either at the executive level or
legislative level.
Mark said unless section 7 of the Constitution was amended,
the National Assembly would not be able to do something about the current
situation.
He, however, expressed optimism that if the state
governments would do even a little better than that what was currently
obtainable, the situation would be a lot different.
Mark noted that only Lagos was generating its own revenue
adding that other states were largely depending on federal allocation.
The Senate president said he completely disagreed with Sen.
Uche Chukwumerije (PDP-Abia), who described Nigeria as a failed state.
He said there was no doubt the country had challenges but
expressed optimism that with the right political will the challenges would be
surmounted.
The Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, urged
senators to remain patriotic and nationalistic, assuring them that all hope for
Nigeria was not lost.
Sen. Pius Ewherido (DPP-Delta) in his contribution,
congratulated Nigerians especially the ordinary masses, saying they were the
real victors.
Ewherido called on the National Assembly to take budget
implementation seriously, reminding them that it was one way to execute
projects that would impact, positively, on the lives of the ordinary Nigerians.
He stressed the need for effective funding of local
governments to ensure that they met the challenges of economic growth and the
need of the rural populace.
Meanwhile, the Senate
on Tuesday began work on the Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) and Fiscal
Strategy Paper (FSP) by referring the document to its Committee on Finance and
National Planning.
President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded the MTFF and FSP
to the Senate for approval in accordance with sections 13, 12 and 11 of the
Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.
The MTFF is the basis upon which the 2013 Appropriation Act
is structured.
There are certain key areas in the document that need to be
agreed upon by the Senate before the 2013 budget can be approved.
One of such issues is the benchmark of crude oil which the
MTFF document has placed at $75 per barrel. Another is oil subsidy, which the
Senate needs to agree on before the budget can be approved.
It would be recalled that Jonathan had last week
communicated to the Senate through a letter, his intention to present the 2013
budget at a joint sitting of the National Assembly on October 4.
Bearing in mind the importance of the need to submit the
2013 budget early to the National Assembly, Senate President David Mark advised
the committees to expedite work on the document.
Mark said the document should be returned to the Senate next
Tuesday.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
