Minister Seeks Senate Committee Support To Achieve Mandate

Nigerian Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, says the ministry would work with the National Assembly to come up with a roadmap that would assist the sector in achieving its mandate.

The Minister disclosed this in Abuja the nation’s capital when the Senate Committee on Environment led by the Chairman, Senator Yunus Biodun Akintunde, and other Members of the Committee paid him a working visit in his office.

Lawal who solicited for the support and cooperation of the Members of the Committee in the area of funding stressed that the National Assembly is very key for the Ministry to deliver optimally on its mandate.

“I promised to operate an open door policy to the members of the National Assembly and all relevant stakeholders on issues relating to the environment sector.” He said.

He assured the Senate Committee that the ministry will work hand in hand with the committee.

“The environment ministry will soon be unveiling what it intends to do by collaborating with all relevant stakeholders in order to achieve the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” He said.

Budgetary Allocation
In his remark, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq  Salako revealed that the Federal Ministry of Environment and its Agencies need maximum support from the national assembly in terms of budgetary allocation for effective service delivery.

“The eight (8) Point Renewed Hope Agenda of the Mr. President, five (5) of them are Ministry of Environment related issues.” He stated.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Yunus Akintunde reassured the Ministry of their support.

Synergy
He, however, noted that the working visit was to familiarize the Committee with the Ministry and it Agencies with a view to evolving a synergy and effective  implementation and monitoring of government programmes and projects to deliver on the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the current Administration.

“The Committee will want to know your level of preparation, constraints, policy direction, programmes and projects in the 2024 Appropriation Bill (2024 Budget), and the processes and actions your Ministry and Agencies have undertaken so far in these regards.” He explained.

Senator Yunus tasked the Ministry and its Agencies to carry the Committees along on consultation and collaboration with the National Assembly on projects choice, formulation and location in the execution of critical intervention constituency projects in the various Senatorial districts across the country.

According to him, the legislative chamber will continue to collaborate with the ministry for effective management of the environment to ensure a safe and healthy ecosystem.

Shakirat Sadiq