Kogiflame.com
By Femi Olugbemi
The Sixth Assembly of the Kogi State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt Hon Prince Matthew Kolawole has passed over 50 bills into laws in nineteen months while 40 out the passed bills have been assented to by Governor Yahaya Bello.
The Speaker disclosed this yesterday at the Governor’s office in Lokoja during the signing of 8 utility bills by Governor Yahaya Bello.
According to him, the Sixth Assembly under his watch is determined to partner with the other arms of government and relevant stakeholders to make laws that will promote good governance in the state.
He said many of the bills are revenue driven in nature and were initiated by the executive to boost the revenue base of the state, stressing that with the bills being signed into law, the state will start to witness unprecedented development.
He said more bills will be ready for assent next week for the Governor to append his signature, noting that all these are geared toward fast tracking the development of the state.
According to him, the bills after assent by the Governor will have direct impact on the lives of the citizens stressing that the bill on the law to provide for the Establishment of Kogi State Youths Development Commission, Implementation of Sustainable Youth Policy and other matters connected therewith, would transform the state in the area of youth development and encourage the state to access funds from international donors.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Bello for assenting to the bills and not allowing efforts invested by the lawmakers to go in vain.
The bills include a law to Reestablish Kogi Utility Infrastructure Management, Compliance Agency and other matters connected therewith 2018 and a law to Provide for the Establishment of Kogi State Youths Development Commission, Implementation of Sustainable Youth Policy and other matters connected therewith.
Others are a bill to establish Health Insurance Agency and other matters connected with 2018, a law to establish Mineral Resources Development Agency and other matters connected therewith, a law to reenact the Kogi State Public Audit Law and other matters connected therewith, and a law to repel and reenact Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency and other matters connected therewith.
While others include a law to establish the Kogi Enterprise Development Agency and other matters connected therewith 2018 and the law to enact and establish Kogi State Development Trust Funds for the Development and Advancement of Sports and other matters connected therewith.
Addressing Journalists shortly after signing the bills into law, Governor Yahaya Bello said in view of the prevailing economic challenges, there was need to look inwards to make the state financially viable adding that the bills signed into law would help improve the revenue generation base of the state.
“We cannot continue to depend on federation account, hence the need to look inwards, efforts have been put in place to ensure we get this job done and we have centered these bills on the critical sector of our development which also has to do with youths and sports.
“God has made us leaders today. Any responsible government must think of the future, and that’s exactly what we are doing, these bills will help further solidify the future and economy of our dear state.
“I want to sincerely appreciate the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Hon. Mohammed Sanni for painstakingly taking time to go through all the bills. We hope to sign others, we have never had it this good, this is a clear demonstration of harmony, synergy, integration, understanding, and cooperation amongst the arms of government under our leadership,” Gov. Bello added.
Governor Bello commend the Sixth Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole Matthew for a job well done noting that this would be the first time Kogi State House of Assembly will be passing such number of bills within a short period,
‘I must commend Mr Speaker, principal officers, the entire members and staff of the Assembly for a wonderful performance’ he said.
