BAHAPlenary
Summary of proceedings during the plenary of the Bauchi State House of Assembly presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman, today, Wednesday 20th October 2021:
- Votes and proceedings of Wednesday 6th October, 2021 were adopted by the Honourable House as moved and seconded by the Majority Leader Hon. Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu (Azare/Madangala Constituency) and Minority Leader Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo.
- The Honourable House received a message from the Executive Governor of Bauchi State His Excellency Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad. Presenting the message, Majority Leader of the House Hon. Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu explained that in the message the Governor forwarded a draft Bill for a Law to provide for the establishment of Bauchi State Vigilante and Youth Empowerment Agency.
The Speaker asked the Clerk of the House to schedule the draft bill for reading in the next plenary.
- Under matters of urgent public importance, Hon. Gazali Abubakar Wunti (Ganjuwa East Constituency) drawn the attention of the Honourable House on border crisis erupted in his Constituency between Gungura of Ganjuwa Local Government Area and Buri-buri of Dukku Local Government of Gombe State.
According to Hon. Gazali, yesterday around 3:00am people from Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State attacked a village called Bara in Gungura ward. So many committees were formed in the past to resolved the border disputes but all efforts ended in futility. They have been attacking the people of the area and destroying their properties and now it even include loss of lives.
The Member stated that people of his Constituency have been patient for so many years on the damages being perpetuated on them. They destroyed their farms and properties worth millions of naira. The communities now resort to engage volunteers and vigilante to guard their farms.
He urged the Honourable House to send a committee to sympathize with them and ask government to take urgent action on the matter
Speaker Abubakar Y Suleiman expressed his sadness on the situation and said that the House will take urgent action about the matter.
Contributing, Hon. Abdulkadir Umar Dewu (Kirfi Constituency) explained that the issue is worrisome and needs urgent intervention.
He suggested that since the issue involved security, a joint committee on Special Duties and security should be tasked to go and sympathize with people of the area.
Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo Chiroma Constituency opined that sending a committee is not a solution, since there is Boundary Committee in the State under the Deputy Governor, the Honourable House should as a matter of urgency should write to the Executive Arm and ask the boundaries committee to take the matter urgently so that they will contact with their Gombe State counterpart. Meanwhile the House can send its committee to sympathize with the people of the area.
Hon. Bala Rabilu Itas-Gadau Constituency sympathize with the people of Gungura Ward and opined that the House should rather send joint a committee to Dukku Local Government to find out what are the real issues.
However Speaker Abubakar Rules that out saying it will amount to duplication of duty, because they are sure the committee that is given the task will do the right thing.
Deputy Speaker Hon Danlami Ahmed Kawule concurs with the opinion of the Minority Leader that the Government should take action immediately while the two committees should go and sympathize with the people of the area.
The Honourable House adopted the motion and directed the Clerk to communicate the resolution to the executive arm and asked the house committees on security and special duties to go and sympathize with the people.
- Hon. Bello Sarkin Jadori (Gamawa Constituency) moved a motion calling on the State Government to create breast and other cancer screening units in Specialist Hospital and all General Hospitals across the State.
Leading debate on the motion, Hon. Bello explained that cancer is a deadly malignant disease and is prevalent in sub saharan Africa, stressing that people of the Northeast part of the country are struggling to cope with the increasing burden of the cancer and other communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
He added that cancer is among the major diseases in Nigeria with over 100,000 new cases and 70, 000 deaths recorded annually.
According to the lawmaker review of cancer conducted in ATBU Teaching Hospital showed an average diagnosis of five cancer cases every week. What will happen in Specialist Hospital, general hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the State if diagnostic equipments will be made available? Hon. Bello asked rhetorically.
The member prayed government should establish cancer management centres in Specialist Hospital Bauchi and General Hospitals in the State for proper diagnosis which will help in addressing the cases of cancer by 80% in Bauchi state.
Also, to further ensure effective implementation and proper placement of the unit, the Honourable House should mandate its committee on health to visit two or three states that implemented the law of cancer in their states with a view to enact same in Bauchi State.
In his contribution, Hon. Saleh Hodi Jibir (Disina Constituency) said that the issue of cancer cannot be overemphasized.
According to him, the disease is controllable but people are not enlightened on the early signs of the diseases despite the fact that it is leading mortality rate in the country.
Hon. Hodi noted that the House has important role to play toward combating the disease.
“In Bauchi there is only one Cancer Centre which belongs to the federal government. We need to have centres owned by the State Government to reduce the prevalent of the disease. The condition touches everyone thus all the lawmakers are ready to contribute toward the motion.” He added.
Hon. Yusuf Muhammad Bako (Pali Constituency) commended the mover of the motion for considering the plight of the people of the rural areas.
He explained that many people see cancer as incurable which is resulting in death of many people.
He suggested that dialysis centres should also be set up in all hospitals and make dialysis free in the State. According to him the free dialysis centre will ease the hardship being faced by people suffering from kidney related diseases.
However Hon. Danlami Ahmed Kawule disagreed with the suggestion of Hon. Yusuf and suggested that the House should not deviate to another issue since the motion is about cancer, the issue of dialysis should be left for another motion.
Hon. Yunusa Ahmad (Warji Constituency) said that the motion is very important and long overdue.
He added that the laboratories for screening of cancer are capital intensive and is not like any other laboratory thus tere is need if intervention of government to establish such laboratories.
Hon. Yunusa explained that observation of cancer needs specialized skill and early detection and management of cancer is the key to fight against the disease.
“People will be doing their businesses without knowing that they have cancers, therefore having these cancer centres is very key. Cancer is not restricted to only women even men are suffering from various types of cancer which affects them in so many ways including their sexual capacity.
Hon. Abdulkadir Umar Dewu (Kirfi Constituency) said that issue should be given all the importance it deserves.
“The statistics presented in the motion showed that 80 percent of the those infected die from the disease. Issue of awareness creation should be taken with more seriousness because people in the rural areas don’t know much about the disease. Issue of manpower to handle the disease.
Hon. Dewu suggested that the House should mandate the House Commitee on Health to come up with a law that will guide how to fight the disease in the State.
Minority Leader Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo suggested that the House should mandate the Commitee to come up with an enabling law that will mandate the Government on how to fight the disease.
The Honourable House adopted the prayers of the motion; to communicate to the executive to establish cancer management centres in hospitals and the Honourable House Commitee on Health to come up with a draft bill for a Law to guide on how to fight the disease.
- Report of the House Commitee on Culture and Tourism on a Bill for a Law to provide for the establishment of Bauchi State Tourism Development Corporation and for connected matters was laid by the Chairman of the Committee Hon. Yunusa Ahmad (Warji Constituency).
The Committee recommended that the name of the Board should be changed to Bauchi State Tourism Development Corporation and should have part time chairman with proven record of contribution to the development and promotion of Tourism and hospitality industry in the State and managing director/State conservator general.
According to the Report, the functions and powers of the Corporation should include: to advise and carryout schemes aimed at encouraging people within and outside the country to visit the State, to oversee, coordinate and supervise the tourism activities in hotel, Yankari Game, Sumu Wildlife Park, Lame-Burra Game Reserve and Mala Dumba Bird Sanctuary and other related tourist sites, to facilitate coordinate, control and monitor protection activities in all the reserves that will guarantee safety and well-being of fauna and flora resources among many other functions.
The Honourable House adopted all the recommendations of the Committee.
- Minority Leader Hon Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo requested the Honourable House to allow a bill for a Law to provide for the establishment of Bauchi State Tourism Development Corporation and connected to undergo third reading. He was seconded by Chief Whip Hon. Tukur Ibrahim (Toro/Jama’a Constituency)
Upon approval by the Honourable Members after a voice voting, the Speaker asked the Clerk of the House Umar Yusuf Gital Esq to carryout the third reading.
The Bill for a Law to provide for the establishment of Bauchi State Tourism Development Corporation is therefore passed into law.
- Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo Chiroma Constituency moved that a Bill for a Law to establish Bauchi State Signage and Advertisement Management Agency BASEMA should undergo first reading. He was seconded by Chief Whip Hon. Tukur Ibrahim.
- Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo Chiroma Constituency moved that a Bill for a Law to establish Bauchi State Signage and Advertisement Management Agency BASEMA should undergo second reading. He was seconded by Chief Whip Hon. Tukur Ibrahim.
After the Honourable Members approved, the Speaker asked the Clerk to carryout the second reading.
The Honourable House referred the Bill to the House Commitee on Commerce and Industries and given two weeks.
- Minority Leader Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo moved that a Bill for a Law to establish Farmers and Herdsmen Board with powers among other things to maintain grazing reserve to undergo first reading. He was seconded by the Chief Whip Hon. Tukur Ibrahim.
The Honourable Members approved after voice vote, thereafter the Speaker asked the Clerk of the House to carryout the first reading.
The second reading of the Bill was also carryout in the same manner and the Honourable House referred the Bill to the House Commitee on Agriculture and given three weeks to report back.
- The Honourable House adjourned to tomorrow 21st October, 2021 as moved and seconded by the Minority Leader Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo and the Chief Whip Hon. Tukur Ibrahim (Toro/Jama’a Constituency)