NASS members don’t hijack job slots – Senate President Lawan

President of Senate Ahmad Lawan says that officials of the National Assembly do not tamper with job slots as being reported in some sections of the media.

Lawan also said the National Assembly was committed to keeping with the practice of Federal Character principles in employment and other matters.

Lawan made the statement while fielding questions at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

He said that members of the National Assembly were representing people and could not have “hijacked” any employment process in the country.

According to him, employment opportunity was for every qualified Nigerian to apply and that the recruitment process was done online.

Lawan also said there was no lopsidedness in the confirmation of nominees forwarded to the Senate by the executive, noting that every nomination and confirmation was based on adherence to principles of federal character.

He pledged the commitment of the Senate to continue to work with the executive and private sectors in the creation of employment for Nigerians.

On if the senate wound pass the hate speech bill and the social media bill, that had passed first and second reading, Lawan said the bills would not be passed without going through a public hearing.

According to him, the opinion and decisions of Nigerians will determine the passages of bills.

He said the opinion and decisions of Nigerians would decide the fate of the bills and every other bills before the national assembly.

He said the National Assembly would not do what would be inimical to the interest of Nigerians.

Lawan said the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) bill passed by the Senate and the finance bill would help generate additional funds to implement the 2020 budget.

According to him, the PSC would in 2020, given the sale of crude oil at 60 dollars per barrel, generate two billion dollars to the national treasury.

This, Lawan noted would help reduce the deficit in the budget and help in its implementation.

On execution of constituency projects, Lawan said:” The constituency projects have generated some controversy, but they are essential projects.

“They also suffer the same fate under national projects, when there is no sufficient fund.

“When there is no sufficient fund, we can not have 100 per cent execution of projects.

“As far as I can remember, the highest implementation rate was 70 per cent in the past.

“I believe that with more revenue coming into the coffers of Federal Government in the light of what we have been able to do with the amendments to PSC and the Finance Bill, the percentage implementation of all projects will increase,” he said.