The opposition parties in the Senate said that their agenda for the upper house will be based on promoting the socio-economic, infrastructural and democratic development of the country.
Minority Leader Simon Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North) revealed this at a press conference shortly after Wednesday’s plenary session.
The opposition parties are the PDP, the Labor Party, the Social Democratic Party, the New Nigeria People’s Party, Grand Alliance of All Progressives and the Progressive Youth Party. They have a total of 50 senators in the 109-member upper legislature.
Mwadkwon, who emerged as the parties’ leader on Tuesday, said the parties would help legislate policies that will help the Nigerian government craft budget plans that will benefit its constituents.
He also said that he and his colleagues will ensure the improvement in the allocation of government resources in the budget procedure.
“The opposition leadership will work to specifically ensure the following:
“Helping the government to move from the line budget to the needs of the citizens without a proper assessment or a bottom-up needs assessment to the Budget Based on Programs (CNTPBB) in terms of implementation, which will allow our constituents to benefit more of the national budget.
“Help improve government efficiency in allocating resources by linking citizen need to program performance with budget allocation through the budget process.”
Mwadkwon also said the minority would collaborate with foreign, regional and parliamentary organizations “to strengthen opposition activities in parliament to achieve good governance and national cohesion for Nigeria’s democratic survival.”
He listed organizations such as the International Parliamentary Union (IPU), Global Parliamentary Partnership Against Corruption; Parliament of the European Union; Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Westminster Foundation for Democracy; Sustainable Development Goals Network; PLATE; YIAGA Africa; Center for the Development of Democracy; International Republic Institute (IRI), African Parliamentary Reform and Advocacy Group (APARG) and National Democratic Institute (NDI).
Mwadkwon also vowed that his leadership will ensure that all minority party senators and their constituencies receive support.
He added that minority parties would make and contribute to bills, motions and debates in the full Senate.