Niger Assembly Passes a Bill For Establishment Of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board

 

From Olabode Adaramola

Niger State House of Assembly has considered and passed into law a Bill for the establishment of the state  Pilgrims Welfare Board.

The bill was submitted by the executive arm of the state government, to replace the former Niger State Pilgrims welfare Commission and it was received by the House in July 2016, in accordance with the relevant Sections, 14(C) and 16 of the aforementioned Bill Passed by the last 7th  legislature.

This was contained in a Press release by the Head of Department, Information and Protocol of the House, Malam Adamu Sabo a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune on Monday in Minna, the state capital.

Sabo however stated that the bill  could not be assented into law at the period, adding that it is now being  considered for an amendment by the present 8th legislature, for effective discharge of the Pilgrims Board Statutory Functions.

According to the Chairman of the House Committee on Religious Affairs, Hon. Salihu Mohammed Tama, who presented the report of his Committee at Plenary, stated that Section 4 (C) will now include 3 Christian Faith members nominee into the composition of the proposed Pilgrims welfare Board in the State.

The release stated further that the report of the Committee was  subsequently seconded by Hon. Mohammed Danlami Bako, member, representing Rafi Constituency of the state

Consequently,  in his remark after contributions by some legislators in support of the report, the House  Speaker, Rt. Hon. Marafa Ahmed commended the House Committee on Religious Affairs for its diligence and timely completion of its assignment and urged other House Committees with outstanding similar assignments to fast track the completion and report back to the House for further legislative actions.

He also  directed the Clerk of the House, Alh. Abdullahi Mohammed Kagara  to transmit clean copies of the amendment bill to the Executive for the Governor’s  assent.

In a related development, the  House has also received the Committees report on Labour and Productivity, headed by Hon. Malik Madaki, member representing Bosso Constituency, on the screening of three nominees for replacement at the State Independent Electoral Commission with Alh. Ibrahim Aliyu Tunga Wawa and Comrade Mohammed Adams Erena as Commissioner 1 in the State Civil Service Commission respectively.

The National Wire further  learnt that  the nominee to serve as the Chairman for the State Fiscal Responsibility Commission is still being worked out by the Committee and would be submitted to the House for confirmation in due course.

In his remark after the presentation of the Committees report on the two nominees as recommended, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Marafa Ahmed also Commended the Committee for a job well done and appealed to the committee for a speedy action on the remaining nominee expected to serve as the Chairman of the State Fiscal Responsibility Commission, while urging the Committee to  report back to the House for confirmation and further legislative action after the House recess.

In another development, the  House has adopted a motion of Public importance sponsored and moved by Hon. Mohammed Nurudeen Umar, member representing Kontagora 1 Constituency, and Chairman, House Committee on Commerce and investment.

This is  in pursuant of rule 4 of the House standing order 2008, which bothered on a pending bill before the House  which was considered by the last legislature, but yet to be assented to establish the State Investment Agency in the state but  complained  that somebody has been parading himself as  the Director General/ Executive Secretary  of the Agency.

This , the House , pointed out  is in contravention of the law and must be checked .

Meanwhile  the House Committee Chairman on Commerce and investment,h as appealed to the House to use its legislative powers to check this serious infraction and illegality and apply appropriate sanctions to the culprit and his collaborators.

The release noted that after deliberations on the matter by the House members in support of the sponsors prayers on the motion, the Speaker directed that the alleged officer should henceforth stop parading himself as the Agencys officer in charge and vacate that office with immediate effect, pending when further investigation of the matter by the House was concluded.

The House Speaker Right Hon. Ahmed Marafa  further directed that the Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Ibrahim Isah Ladan,in conjunction with the Hon. Commissioner of Justice Barr.  MalNasara Dan Mallam , to appear before the House plenary at the next legislative session, to explain their roles on the matter.

Nevertheless,  the House has also received an executive communication, forwarding the State Supplementary Budget Proposal for the year  2016, in a letter signed by the Governor of the State,  Alhaji  Abubakar Sani. Bello, addressed to the Speaker and read on the floor of the House.

According  to the letters, the proposed Supplementary Budget was necessitated by the inflow of N 2.5billion  of Bail out and N8.6billion  Budget Support facility  , from the federal government to the state for the total sum of N11.114 Billion.

This according to the release  takes care of salary arears for Civil Servants, Pension and some Capital Projects respectively.

The House has also received another executive Communication to notify the legislature for the Governor of the State to travel for his annual vacation to Europe between 21st December 2016 to 3rd January, 2017 adding that in the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s  absence, his deputy , Alh. Ahmed Mohammed Ketso will oversee the Governor’s Schedules in the state as the acting Governor.

Furthermore, at the end o the House deliberations of the matters before the House, the Majority leader of the House, Hon. Isah Ibrahim Dandodo, member representing Rijau Constituency moved for the adjournment of the House to observe its annual recess from 29th December 2016 to 17th January, 2017.

And the motion for adjournment as moved was seconded by the Minority leader of the Hosue, Hon. Bello Ahmed, member representing Agwara Constituency.

In his closing remark, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Marafa Ahmed, assured the people of the state that the Legislature  under his leadership in the state and the Executive arm will continue to collaborate to ensure that the aspirations and expectation of the people of the state to improve the socio economic well being of the citizens  in the state, was achieved.

This according to him is  through positive legislative functions for general good governance in the state, in accordance with the vision and mission of the government  in the state.

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Airtel Nigeria.