The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended the Senate under the leadership of Dr Bukola Saraki for the passage of the 2017 appropriation bill.

A statement by NANS President, Mr Chinonso Obasi, on Sunday in Abuja, said that the eighth Senate had acquitted itself creditably as a source socio-political stability in the present dispensation.

He said that the passage of the budget despite challenges showed that the Senate leadership understood the plight of Nigerian masses.

Obasi said that the passage of the budget would give Nigerians renewed optimism in the midst of the current socio-economic challenges.

“NANS feels that the leadership of the eight NASS is a blessing to Nigeria’s democracy given the prevailing political circumstances in the country.

“Since June 9, 2015, ambitious politicians have been seeking ways to distract the National Assembly from discharging its duties diligently.

“This time around also, when President Muhammadu Buhari is grappling with some minor health challenges, we see unscrupulous politicians making unguarded utterances and heating up the polity unnecessarily.

“The Saraki-led National Assembly has provided institutional bulwarks to protect, preserve and promote Nigeria’s hard won democracy by remaining focused in its constitutional responsibilities of law making and oversight,’’ he said.

Obasi recalled that during the delayed appointment of cabinet ministers, Saraki had to wait way into the night to receive Buhari’s list of nominees.

He said Saraki did all he could to ensure the promise of submitting the names of appointees by September was met.

The NANS president said that the students’ union recognised Saraki’s salient contributions to the steady progress of Nigeria’s democracy and decided to laud him and his colleagues.

“As representatives of 40 million Nigerian students, we are happy that the Senate shunned unnecessary distractions to pass the budget, because we bear greater brunt of economic hardship in the country.

“We use this opportunity to call on the authorities to seek ways of aborting further distractions on the legislature, by stopping further trial of Saraki at the CCT in similar way the Kano committee suspended further probe of the Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi 111.

“Our country is passing through very trying times and only care and circumspection by officers should help the nation navigate its way out of the crossroads,” the NANS president said. (NAN)

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