From Beauty John, LAFIA
Nasarawa state house of assembly has passed into first reading, a bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment of Nasarawa State Youth Development Commission , Implementation of Sustainable Youth Policy and other Matters Connected Therewith.
Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi announced the passage of the bill into first reading during the house proceedings in Lafia, on Wednesday.
The sponsor of the bill, Hon. Nehemiah Tsentse Dandaura, Deputy Speaker of the house, who moved a motion for its passage opined that the bill when passed into law will address high rate of unemployment, youth restiveness and other challenges faced by youths in the state.
“When you look at the EndSARS haul and what happened, when you link them to this bill, you will know that this bill will do a lot if finally passed into law.
“If the state implements it, to a large extent it’s going to take care of so many things that affect the youth,” he said.
He commended ActionAid Nigeria , Global Peace Development (GPD) and Beacon Youth Initiative (BYI) for their support and encouragement since inception of the bill, as he assured of speedy passage of the bill.
Dandaura (APC- Akwanga North) disclosed that the assembly is making effort to come up with more youth friendly laws that will have direct bearing on the lives of youths in the state.
Seconding the motion for the Bill to scale through first reading was Hon Musa Salihu Iyimoga ( Member representing Doma North) who doubles as the Chairman House Committee on Youth and Sports.
Iyimoga stated that when the bill if passed and the commission established, there will be inclusion and youths will finally have a voice in the issue of governance in Nasarawa state, among other benefits.
“With me as the chairman House Committee on Youth and Sports, I was not privileged to be the one sponsoring the bill but I have to in any way possible, lay my voice in support.
When it comes to the second reading, we will make sure we give suitable and convincing substance that will make even the government understand why that commission should be established,” he added.
In thesame light, Actionaid Nigeria has commended the deputy speaker of the House, Nehemiah Tsentse Dandaura for sponsoring the bill.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the proceeding, representative of the Non-Government Organization, Mr Anicetus Atakpu explained that the bill is line with the ongoing System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalization to Violent Extremism (SARVE II) project he is coordinating in 12 communities within six local government areas of the state.
” We are here in support of the bill being sponsored by the Rt. Hon Deputy Speaker, Nehemiah Tsentse Dandaura as the bill is in the right step and in the right direction.
“Such a bill will address the issue of youths restiveness, issue of youths Empowerment, issue of entrepreneur development for youths, will address issue of youth inclusiveness in governance and will address the issues of youths engagement in the area of technical and vocational training.
PROMPT NEWS reports that December 15, 2020 has been slated for the second reading of the Bill.
