Presidency, Senate working to end recession in first quarter of 2017— Senator Bassey

CALABAR— SENATOR Gershom Bassey, who represents the Southern Senatorial district of Cross River State, weekend, said the priority of the Senate and the Presidency was how to take the country out of the current recession in the first quarter of this year. President Muhammadu Buhari and President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki exchanges greetings with members of the national assembly members after the presidential dinner at the Presidential Villa. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE/STATE HOUSE. MAY 31 2016. The senator noted that the initial bad blood and suspicion that existed between the Senate and Presidency had given way to improved working relationship between the executive and legislative arms. Senator Bassey who spoke in Calabar while interacting with thousands of members of his constituency who visited him, said: “At the beginning some individuals in the Presidency and the Senate were going beyond their roles, maybe, because they did not understand their roles. So, there were lots of suspicion, having just come out of a general election. But today, everybody understands his role, whether in the executive or legislature. So, there is better understanding and collaboration as seen when the President presented the 2017 budget where he received a standing ovation. “Senate is working very hard to ensure that our beloved country comes out of recession by the first quarter of 2017. We have about 11 bills that we are working on in the Senate beginning from the Petroleum Industry Bill of along with others directly focussing on improving the economic situation in the country.”