Bills on pregnant convicts and life imprisonment, and creation of Okura state as well as the Plateau School collapse are highlights from Thursday’s plenary session
Bill to sentence pregnant convicts to life imprisonment instead of death scales second reading
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed for second reading a bill seeking to commute the sentence of pregnant women convicted of offences punishable by death to life imprisonment. The bill titled, “a Bill for an Act to Alter Section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Insert a new subsection which Provides that if a Pregnant Woman is Convicted of an Offence Punishable by Death, the Court Shall Sentence her to Life Imprisonment Instead of Death Sentence (HB. 1409)” was sponsored by Rep. Babajimi Benson (APC Lagos).
Reps pass bill to create Okura State for second reading
A bill to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for creation of Okura State with Egume as the proposed capital scaled second reading on the floor of the House on Thursday. The new state is to be created out of the present Kogi state. Deputy majority leader of the House, Rep. Abdullahi Halims (APC Kogi), who sponsored the bill, said the new state will bring government closer to the long neglected people of Igala Bassa land.. But the bill did not sit well with another member from Kogi State, Rep. Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem (APC Kogi), who said his constituency, which is Ajaokuta federal constituency, cannot be part of the proposed Okura state nobody was consulted from his constituency in respect to the creation of the new state.
Reps to investigate Jos school building collapse
The House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its committee on basic education and housing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Jos school building collapse. The House also urged the federal ministry of education and relevant stakeholders to develop and implement a comprehensive policy on infrastructure development and maintenance in schools across the country to ensure safety and well-being of our children. These resolutions stemmed from a motion of urgent importance by Rep. Daniel Asama (LP Plateau) and seven other members. Rep. Asama who moved the motion on Thursday said the school building collapse in Jos claimed 22 lives and left about 100 injured who are receiving treatments in different hospitals across the state. He worried that the incident had sent shock waves among the nation. The House therefore mandated the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide necessary support and assistance to victims.
Reps to donate 50% of salaries to ease hardship
The House of Representatives on Thursday appealed to Nigerians to toe the line of peace over a planned protest. This is as they resolved to take a 50% pay cut for the next six months to ease hardship in the country. The lawmakers also appealed to Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu‘s policies time to take effect. These decisions followed a motion of urgent importance by Rep. Ibrahim Isiaka ( APC Ogun) “On the need for an appeal to the proponents of proposed nationwide protest, to maintain, peace eschew violence and open windows for meaningful engagements with the government at all levels in order to address their issues”
BILLS CHART FOR THE DAY
Below is OrderPaper’s signature presentation of bills taken in the House plenary today. Readers are invited to contact us for further information via info@orderpaper.ng or WhatsApp via +234 704 700 3031
