BAHAPlenary

Summary of proceedings during the plenary of Bauchi State House of Assembly presided over by Deputy Speaker Hon. Danlami Ahmed Kawule (Barden Arewan Bauchi) today, 25th August 2020:

1. Votes and proceedings of Monday 17th August 2020 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 (Chiroma Constituency) and voted by the members.

2. The Honourable House received two messages from His Excellency Senator Bala Mohammad requesting the House to screen and confirm Permanent Members and Secretary for Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC). The nominated Permanent Members are; Adamu Zakari from Itas/Gadau Local Government, Gauis Dauda Tafawa Balewa Local Government and Abdulmalik Aliyu from Katagum Local Government while Hamidu Adamu is nominated as Secretary of the Committee.

The Majority Leader of the House Hon. Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu (Azare/Madangala) observed that the name of the nominee from Katagum Local Government is erroneously writte as Abdulmalik Aliyu instead of Abdulmalik Wakili therefore the House should write to the Secretary to the State Governmentfor clarification. Also, the appointment of the Secretary to the Commission is the prerogative of the Governor thus doesn’t need the approval of the Honourable House.

The Honourable House also received another message from the Executive Governor of Bauchi State His Execellency Senator Bala Mohammad requesting the House the Honourable House to screen and conform Dr. Asma’u Ahmed Giade from Giade Local Government, and Hon. Maryam Garba from Dass Local Government as Commissioners and members of Bauchi State Executive Council.

Minority Leader Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo suggested that the Commissoner-nominees should be invited for screening and confirmation tomorrow.

Majority Leader Hon. Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu opined that the nominees for BASIEC too should be invited for screening and confirmation tomorrow while the Secretary to the State Government should make a correction on the name of the nominee from Katagum for record purpose.

The Honourable House resolved to invite all the nominees for screening and confirmation tomorrow 26th August, 2020.

3. Under matters of urgent public importance, Hon. Saleh Hodi Jibir (Disina Constituency) raised alarm on the failure of the State Government to address the issue of flooding in the State.

According to him, there was a report of rampant flooding last year by this time across the State and the House set up a committee that went round the local governments for assessments and a report was compiled and submitted, including the estimate of the damages, the House has taken it to the Executive but unfortunately, no action is taken by the Executive Arm.

Hon. Hodi added that last two weeks same issue on flooding accross the State was raised and the House decided to send reminder to the Executive, yet nothing is done.

“Currently there is report of cases of flooding almost everywhere.

“In Disina there is flooding in some areas that claim one life. I, therefore, urge this Honourable House to take immediate and emergency action on the matter in my Constituency and the areas where the damages are very high across the State.

Hon. Yunusa Ahmad (Warji Constituency) narrated a similar story of flooding in his Constituency. According to him, in Kamasaya of Dagu Ward over 150 houses are destroyed, livelihoods of people have been destroyed by the flood. Also Bura village the flooding claimed two lives.

He added that this happened every year during the raining season and nothing has been done. SEMA was proactive to visit the victims but nothing is given to them. Hon Yunusa Ahmad suggested that the House should set up a committee to sympathize with the victims and mountain pressure on the State Government to take action.

He also suggests that the covid-19 palliative items should be diverted to the victims of flood since the victims of corona virus are not much in the State

Majority Leader Hon. Tijjani Aliyu (Azare /Madangala Constituency) expressed his absolute disappointment in respect to response to emergency by all the relevant agencies in the State.

According to the Majority Leader, last year same matter was reported in many areas especially in Shira where many houses are destroyed and many people died and the House constituted a committee that went round the State for assessment and recommendations are made to the Executive Arm, the Committee worked with SEMA to carryout the assignment but up to this moment nothing was done.

“No a single item worth five Naira that was extended to the victims of flooding across the State.

” Our responsibility is to protect the lives and property of the people. I therefore urge the Hon House to be proactive in the approach on matters like these.

“Let’s make sure the victims get succour from the State and lawmakers.” The Leader added.

He suggested that the Hon. House should summon agencies responsible for taking care of emergencies such as flooding to explain.

Hon. Gazali Abubakar Wunti (Ganjuwa East) opined that the issue of SEMA not responding at when due and the recommendations of the Committees not implemented can better be explained by the Secretary to the State Government since SEMA is under his office.

He suggested that the SSG should be invited to explain to the House why the recommendations of House are not taken care of and why SEMA is not responding to the emergencies of flooding in the State.

Hon. Baballe Abubakar Dambam (Dambam/Dagauda/Jalam Constituency) concurs with Hon. Gazali Abubakar Wunti. He said that since SSG is the overseer of SEMA, he should be summoned.

Hon. Baballed explained that the budgetary allocation of SEMA is not funded by the State Government according to an investigation that House Committee on Finance conducted. Therefore even if they are invited this is what they will tell the House thus the SSG should be summoned to explain.

Hon. Musa Wakili Nakwada (Bogoro Constituency) lamented that the names of the lawmakers will be dented if care is not taken.

“We went round the State for assessment last year and nothing is done, if they see us again this year what will they call us? They will call us names”. He explained.

He urged that the Government should be advised that whether there is money or not it must find a way to intervene on the matter. No matter how small, the government should do something. The agency should be funded.

Hon. Jamilu Umaru Dahiru Bauchi Central Constituency opined that SEMA should be called first to know the efforts they made before inviting the SSG.

He also support the conversion of covid-19 palliative to the victims of flooding across the State.

However Hon. Baballe insisted that inviting SEMA is a waste of time since they already told the House Committee on Finance that they are not funded. Thus the SSG is in better position to give account.

The Honourable House resolved to summon the Secretary to the State Government to explain to the House why the government failed to act on cases of flooding across the State House tomorrow 26th August 2020 at 10:00 am.

4. Report of the House Committee on Health and Human Services on a Bill for a Law to make provision for the compulsory medical treatment and care for a child victim of sexual violence and to provide for free emergency treatment to accident victims and for related matters 2020 was laid by the Chairman of the Committee Hon. Bello Sarkin Jadori (Gamawa Constituency).

The Honourable House adopted all the recommendations of the Committee.

5. Hon. Bello Sarkin Jadori (Gamawa Constituency) moved that the bill for a law to make provision for the compulsory medical treatment and care for a child victims of sexual violence and to provide for free emergency treatment to accident victims and for related matters should go for third reading.

After putting the motion to voting and members voted in favour, the Clerk of the House Yusuf Umar Gital Esq read the Bill for the time.

The bill for a law to make provision for the compulsory medical treatment and care for child victim of sexual violence and to provide for free emergency treatment to accident victims and for related matters is passed into law.

6. The Honourable House adjourned to tomorrow 26th August 2020 as moved and seconded by the Majority Leader Hon. Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu (Azare/Madangala Constituency) and Minority Leader Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo (Chiroma Constituency).