On Thursday, the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19, which was established by the legislative body to oversee the Federal Government’s counterpandemic efforts, laid its report.
More than three years after the panel was established for the task, the pandemic report was laid by the chairman of the House Committee on COVID-19, Haruna Mshelia.
While the committee was established on April 28, 2020, Speaker of the House Femi Gbajabiamila had inaugurated the committee on March 19, 2020, with a charge to coordinate the House’s activities regarding the illness.
During the House committee’s inauguration, Gbajabiamila stated that the panel was established as part of the parliament’s commitment to continuously serve Nigerians’ best interests.
“The 18-man committee we have come to inaugurate reflects the intention of the House of Representatives to engage the executive arm of government in a partnership that serves the best interests of the Nigerian people, as we join forces to confront and conquer the most serious challenge of our lives,” the Speaker said.
Gbajabiamila had instructed the committee to make sure that the PTF’s operations adhered to global best practises.
At its meeting on Thursday, the House passed no fewer than eight bills for third reading.
A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act, Cap. R7 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Enact the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Bill to Grant the Commission Enforcement Powers in the Monitoring of Accruals to and Disbursement of Revenue from the Federation Account and to Bring the Act in Compliance with the Provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) are a few of them.
When the bill is passed into law, RMAFC will have the authority to pursue cases involving illegitimate salaries and benefits in federal, state, and local ministries, departments, and agencies as well as in the bodies that represent the governments, such as the National Assembly.
In agreement with the Senate, which had already approved the bill, the House passed it.
A Bill for an Act to Establish the Real Estate Regulatory Agency of the Federal Capital Territory to Provide Globally Acceptable Standard of Service and Transparent Administration of the Business of Real Estate Development, and Prescribed Minimum Standards for the Conduct of the Business of Real Estate Development in the Federal Capital Territory and for Related Matters, was another piece of harmonised legislation that was passed.
A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Explosives Act of 1964 and Enact the Explosives Bill to Regulate the Manufacture, Storage, Possession, Use, Distribution, Purchase, Sale, Transportation, Importation and Exportation of Explosives and for Related Matters was also reviewed and approved by the House.
The bill is one of three that the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari sent back to the National Assembly after failing to receive presidential assent.
Abubakar Fulata, the chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, had made a motion to recommit the bills on Wednesday.
Fulata recalled that the National Assembly had approved and forwarded to the President the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.1596), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.2195), and Chartered Institute of Digital Forensics of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.1491).
“Some fundamental issues which require fresh legislative action emerged after critical analysis of the bills in the Presidency,” he claimed, pleading with the House to “rescind its decision on the bills as passed and commit the same to the Committee of the Whole for reconsideration.”
The motion was approved, and the House then looked over the bills.
The third reading was completed for another piece of legislation, “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, No. 11 of 2022 Provides for an Additional Source of Funds for the Management of the Library to Enhance the Capacity of Legislators and National Assembly Staff and for Related Matters (HB.2223).”
The National Assembly Library Trust Fund’s recurrent account will receive the sum of N255 million that was approved by the House for the National Assembly e-Library in the Appropriations Act 2022/2023 as part of the initial take-off grant.
The House also agreed that N118 million that had been budgeted for the National Assembly Dashboard should also be transferred to the NASS Library Trust Fund’s recurrent account.
The decision followed the unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent public importance made by House member Jonathan Gbefwi during Tuesday’s plenary session.
There was also “A Bill to Repeal the National Fertiliser Quality Control Act, No 23, 2019 and Enact the National Fertiliser and Agricultural Pesticide Control Bill to Provide an Improved Regulatory Framework for the Manufacture, Importation, Sale and Distribution of Fertiliser and Agricultural Pesticides in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB.2224)” (A Bill to Repeal the National Fertiliser Quality Control Act, No 23, 2019 and Enact the National Fert
‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Strengthen the Operations of the Agency, Empower the Agency to Establish Laboratories, Update the List of Dangerous Drugs, Review the Penalty Provisions, Enhance the Power of the Agency to Prosecute Drug-Related Offences and Issue Subsidiary Legislation’ (HB.2195) was also approved by the House.
“A Bill for an Act to Repeal the National Examinations Council (NECO) Act, Cap. N37, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact the National Examinations Council Bill to Provide for Making NECO National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BSCE), and the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (Internal) (SSCE) (1) Compulsory for Every Nigerian Child and Provide for the Removal of Claims” was another piece of legislation that was passed.
The National Business and Technical Examinations Board Act, Cap. N12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, was also amended by “A Bill for an Act to Act to Amend the National Business and Technical Examinations Board Act to Improve the Scope of the Board, to Undertake Contemporary Business and Technical Examinations in Line with the National Policy on Education, Provide the General Purpose of the Results, Certificates and Awards Issued by the Board; and for Related Matters (HB.1492).”
