TheCable

Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, says although the challenges facing the country’s economy appear too difficult, they are surmountable.

Speaking at the inauguration of a 20-man tactical committee set up to tackle the economic recession, Dogara said Nigeria’s case was not different because other countries have surmounted greater economic challenges in the past.

He said the national assembly was committed to ensuring that the sufferings experienced by Nigerians are alleviated.

“We cannot however, continue to lament. The problems are well known. At this point in time, it is the solutions that matters more and that is what should engage our attention,” the speaker said.

“As a parliament, we are committed to ensuring that the sufferings experienced by ordinary Nigerians are alleviated. These challenges may appear too difficult to surmount but the good news is that they are surmountable.

“Other nations have surmounted greater economic challenges in the past and Nigeria’s case cannot be different.”

He lamented the “general anguish on the faces of Nigerians due to poverty and hunger.”

“Going by the report of the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, economic recession is already with us. The double quarters of negative growth, High levels of inflation, worsening purchasing power of the Naira and the increasing levels of unemployment are all strong indicators that all is not well,” he said.

“Today, some of our people can no longer afford to feed. Some School children are dropping out of school due to inability of parents to pay school fees. Transportation, power, healthcare are difficult for the ordinary citizen.”