By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal Abbas has solicited the support of the Senate Committee on Environment to achieve it’s mandate
The minister made the call when members of the Committee paid a working visit to the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
A press release from the Federal Ministry of Environment, said the Minister promised to work with National Assembly to come up with roadmap that would assist the sector achieve its mandate.
The press release signed by Ibrahim Haruna,
Head, Press and Public Relations Unit said the visitors were led by the Committee Chairman, Senator Yunus Biodun Akintunde.
He said Lawal solicited for the support and cooperation of the Members of the Committee in the area of funding, stressing that the National Assembly is very key for the Ministry to deliver optimally on its mandate.
“He 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 assured the Senate Committee on Environment that the ministry will work hand in hand with Committee emphasing, that the environment ministry will soon be unveiling what it inteds to do by collaborating with all relevant stakeholders in order to achieve the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
“In his remark, the Minister of State for environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako stated that of the eight (8) Point Renewed Hope Agenda of the Mr. President, five (5) of them are Ministry of Environment related issues.
“Dr. 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.
“Earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Yunus Bioudun Akintunde reassured the Ministry of their support and hence, this working visit is to familiarize the Committee with the Ministry and it Agencies with a view to evolving a synergy and effective formulation, processing, implementation and monitoring of government programmes and projects to excellently deliver on the ‘Renewed Hope’ of the current Administration in which we are integral stakeholders.
As part of the Legislative oversight functions, Senator Yunus stressed that “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”.
“Speaking further, Senator Yunus tasked the Ministry and its Agencies to carry the Committees along on the consultation, conferment, involvement and collaboration with the National Assembly on programmes/projects choice, formulation and location in the execution of critical intervention constituency projects in the various Senatorial districts across the country.
“The Chairman further disclosed that the Legislative chamber will continue to collaborate with the ministry for effective management of the environment to ensure safe and healthy ecosystem.”
