The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has said that the National Assembly needs more money to execute its statutory responsibilities.
Saraki, who is the Chairman of the National Assembly, said this when he visited chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), at the temporary office of the commission in Utako, Abuja, on Thursday, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha.
The statement said the Senate President was responding to a request by Adamu Fika, chairman of the commission, to have a permanent office of the commission inside the national assembly complex.
Fika was quoted as lamenting the high cost of renting apartments to accommodate the temporary office of the commission.
But responding, Saraki pledged the support of the National Assembly leadership towards the project.
However, he identified inadequate funding as an hindrance.
Saraki said, “One of the things that I see here is the issue of budgetary constraints.
“However, the impression around the country is often that the national assembly has too much money. But we have seen the challenges of the last few years.
“As we work through the number of bills passed, the public hearings held, and the number of ad hoc committees that have been established — we know the challenges of not being able to fund some of our activities.
“So far, I am happy to report that despite these constraints, the 8th senate has been able to surpass all previous senates in the number of bills that we have passed in two years — despite the funding gaps.
“We know that as we continue over time, people will begin to have more confidence in the national assembly.
“However, right now, the challenges that we have are the issue of perception, and the issue of funding. We need to work hard to change this.”
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