HOW BAUCHI ASSEMBLY ACCELERATES GOVERNOR BALA'S DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

By Abdul Ahmad Burra (Spokesperson to the Hon. Speaker BAHA)

The 9th Assembly of Bauchi State  leadership of Speaker Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman (Dangaladiman Ningi) has written its name in golden colours in the minds of good people of Bauchi State for the tremendous achievements recorded since its inauguration on 20th June, 2020.

The Assembly has proven wrong the doomsayers who predicted a chaotic House because of the initial intrigues during its inauguration and the composition of members who are mostly APC while the State Executive Arm is led by the PDP.

With dynamic and meaningful leadership of Speaker Rt Hon Abubakar Y Suleiman, spiced with his humility and simplicity, the 31 members of the Assembly saw reason to put party differences behind their back, embrace each other and put the interest of Bauchi State as their top priority.

The Assembly has done remarkably and creditably well in its functions of law making, appropriation of funds to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, conduct of oversight on all the funds appropriated and all the activities of MDAs as well as representation of various constituencies.

These are made possible by the statesmanship and leadership qualities of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Bauchi State Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad (Kauran Bauchi) who being a former lawmaker held the legislative arm with high esteem. This has created strong bod between the two arms of government despite their differences. As in the word of the Governor and the Speaker, they have common constituency which is Bauchi State.

Within 15 months of its inauguration Dangaladiman Ningi led Bauchi State House of Assembly has passed 16 bills into law, 20 matters of urgent public importance, received 17 messages from the Executive Governor, 16 petitions and 20 committee reports. This is despite the outbreak of corona virus pandemic which put the world at standstill and affected all human activities.

BILLS 

The first bill that the 9th Assembly passed into law is a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Bauchi State Bureau of Statistics. This law is very important because the Bureau will help the government to obtain accurate data before embarking on any project or formulating any policy.

One of the cardinal responsibilities of legislative arm is appropriation of funds for the day to day running of the government. The 9th Assembly knowing the importance of budget to the progress of the State cut its recess and reconvene to consider the Bauchi State 2020 Appropriation as presented by Governor Bala Mohammad on 10/12/2019.

For the first time in history, the Assembly conducted budget defence of MDAs and other engagements day and night and passed the budget before the end of the year.

The House also passed Bauchi State Water Sector Bill 2020 into law, looking at the importance of water to human life and the need to compliment Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad's effort of providing clean water to all people of Bauchi State.

Another important Bill passed into law by the Assembly is a bill for a law to repeal the Bauchi State Geographic Information Service Law of 2019. There is strong need to redesign and beautify cities and towns in Bauchi State. The law in existence was obsolete thus the need to come of up with a law that goes in line with international best practices. The Bauchi State House of Assembly didn't waste time in making this great history.

The Speaker Abubakar led BAHA also passed into law the Bauchi State Local Government Councils Appropriation Bill 2020 to enable smooth running of the 20 local governments of the State so that the dividends of democracy will be felt by all.

Two similar bills for a law to amend the long title of the establishing College of Health Technology Ningi and that of College of and Midwifery Bauchi was also passed into law by the 9th Assembly.

To ensure transparency and quality in the award of contracts in the State, the Assembly passed into law  a bill to establish the Bauchi State Public Procurement Bureau 2020.

The astronomical increase in the cases of rape and violence against persons has worried Speaker Abubakar Suleiman. Thus, he decided to sponsor a bill for a law to prohibit  all forms of violence including physical, sexual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices, discrimination against persons and to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders 2020.

The bill which is popularly known as Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) was unanimously adopted by all members of the Assembly who eventually passed it into law.

Since the passage of the Bill, the Speaker and the Assembly have been receiving commendations from within and outside the country. Many national and international organizations have presented awards and commendations to the Speaker.

Just recently, President Muhammadu Buhari sent Minister of Women Affairs Mrs Pauline Tallen to the Assembly to thank the Members for passing the VAPP law. According to the Minister, the passage of law has gladdened the President.

Other Bills passed by the Assembly includes; Bauchi State Tax Harmonization Law 2020 which is part of remedies to our dwindling economy caused by corona virus pandemic and fall in the price of oil in the global market.

The Assembly also passed into law Bauchi State revised budget 2020 which was necessitated by covid-19 pandemic which made previous budget passed by the Assembly unrealistic.

The 9th Assembly also passed into law the Bill for law to establish Bauchi State Road and Traffic Agency 2020. The purpose of the law is to control and regulate traffic and other matters related to it, will definitely sanitise our towns and villages.

The law will also provide employment for our teeming youths.

MOTIONS

As stated earlier, one of the cardinal responsibilities of any lawmaker in the State Assembly is representation. In discharging this responsibility, the Speaker has provided a conducive atmosphere for members to engaged their constituents through town hall meetings and present the yearning and aspirations of the constituents to the Honourable House for onward transmission to the Executive Arm for implementation.

In this  regard, the Honourable Members presented 50 different motions to the House. After the Honourable House debated during plenaries, the motions are transmitted to the Executive Arm for implementation.

MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Some matters need prompt and urgent actions because of their urgency and effect on the people. The Speaker Rt. Hon. Abubakar Suleiman led BAHA has so far received and treated about 20 matters with that urgency and extended same to the Executive Arm for urgent action.

EXECUTIVE MESSAGES

The Executive Arm led by His Excellency Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad has within the 15 months of the 9th Assembly sent Executive Messages to the Honourable House on different matters. The Honourable House has graciously treated these matters.

PETITIONS

The legislative arm is established to serve the needs and interest of the people. Whenever people are aggrieved, maltreated or injustice is melted on them, the best place to get redress and succour is the State Assembly.

The House has so far received 16 petitions from groups and individuals one various issues. These petitions are either treated or being treated by the various committees of the House.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

The Honourable House has established standing committees to ease the ways of doing legislative businesses and oversight of MDAs.

These committees have so far presented 20 reports of assignments given to them and oversight functions performed on MDAs.

SPEAKER'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN HIS NINGI CENTRAL CONSTITUENCY

Apart from providing purposeful and exemplary leadership at the Assembly, Speaker Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman has never relent in the provision of dividends of democracy to his Constituency, Ningi Central.

It's well known fact that the Speaker won his election overwhelmingly because of his track record of philanthropic and humanitarian services since before he ventured into politics.

The Speaker has within the past 15 months executed various projects and programmes in Ningi Central Constituency.

PROVISION OF CLEAN WATER

One of the  greatest challenge facing the people of Ningi is water scarcity that existed for decades.

Based on that, the Speaker didn't wait for bigger interventions he is pursuing to materialize, he voted millions of naira from his pocket and provided solar powered boreholes in strategic areas in Ningi Town in order to ameliorate the hardship being faced by the people for decades. So far people are happily fetching water from these solar boreholes while other boreholes will be completed soon.

The Speaker didn't stop there as he facilitated the construction of 36 boreholes in different towns and villages of the Constituency. He is currently pursuing provision of more boreholes in other towns and villages.

Water scarcity in Ningi Town and other towns and villages of the Constituency has reduced to a reasonable level due to these initiatives and interventions.

YOUTH AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

While women are the mothers of the society, youth are the backbone. Speaker Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman made youth and women empowerment as his top priority in order to make the society better.

In this line, he has planned and executed various initiatives and packages for their welfare and progress.

At the beginning of his representation, he disbursed five million naira to youth and women as start up capital so that they will engage into different businesses and occupations. 400 women got 5,000 naira each while 300 youths got 10,0000 naira each. Motorcycles and mobile phones are also disbursed to some supporters.

He also sponsored the training of youths on various skills and sponsored many to learn some skills and occupations through Industrial Trust Fund (ITF).

INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT

One of the reasons that drive Dangaladima to join politics is his concern on the level of infrastructural development of Ningi Local Government.

Due to this concern, his first motion at the State Assembly is on the construction of Nasaru-Gwam-Arinje-Balma road. The State Government will soon commence the construction of the road as requested by the Speaker.

The Speaker also made sure Ningi got allocation of 200 houses being constructed by the State Government in the six Emirates of the State.

He lobbied and paid the required counterpart fund for the construction of a half bridge and three culverts and the rehabilitation of Zazika Road. He also lobbied and settled the counterpart fund for the construction of two blocks of three classrooms each as well as two motorised boreholes in Yalwan Kankare village all in Ningi Central Constituency

He constructed Unguwar America bridge and is facilitating interventions to curtail soil erosion which is threatening Ningi Town.

HEALTH SECTOR

Health is key to life. Based on this, Dangaladima has made several inputs for better healthcare delivery in  Ningi Central Constituency.

He partnered Nigeria Medical Association for free medical outreach and distribution of free drugs which took place in Gangaren Maje.

To reduce the effect of shortage of medical personnel in General Hospital Ningi, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman engaged 10 medical personnel a d posted them to the hospital I'm which he is paying them monthly salary.

He also through his wife disbursed free delivery kits to pregnant women in the Constituency to ensure safe delivery.

These are in addition to the settlement of medical bills of many less privileged in the Constituency.

EDUCATION

Education is the ingredient of the development of any society. Speaker Dangaladima is making big investments in the education of the people of his Constituency.

He has purchased and distributed for free, application forms of JAMB's UTME and application forms of various higher institutions in the State to students and prospective students in the Constituency.

The Speaker facilitated the construction and renovations of some primary and junior secondary schools.

Dangaladima is also on daily basis settling registration fees and bursaries for students from the Constituency.

SOCIAL WELFARE

On daily basis, the Speaker is making donations to various categories of people for their welfare especially during festivities.

He had during the fasting of Ramadan, Eid El Fitr, Eidl Kabir, Maulud, Christmas among others donated millions of naira, clothing materials and foodstuffs to his constituents.

He is equally on daily basis making donations for weddings, naming ceremony, burials and other daily needs of the people.

APPOINTMENTS

Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman has appointed the sons of Ningi as his Chief of Staff, Special Advisers, Special Assistants and other aides.

He has also facilitated the upgrade, promotion, placements and appointments of sons and daughters of Ningi into various positions.

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

To benefit from sadaqatul jariyya, Speaker Abubakar Y Suleiman has either constructed or donate for the constructions of mosques and Islamic schools across the Constituency.

He also provided solar power, sound systems, mats and other materials to mosques and Islamic schools across the Constituency.

This is apart from personal donations to imams and Islamic scholars.

NINGI ELECTRICITY REPAIR

Ningi Local Government and its neighbours, Warji and Ganjuwa LGAs have experience blackout for months after the collapse of electric poles along Ningi Kano road.

Speaker Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman who has in the past made various donations for repairs of electricity in Ningi, was pained by the situation and swung to action by bringing the matter to the legislative arm. 

The Honourable House after debating on the matter and related matters from other constituencies made a resolution and sent to the Executive Arm for immediate action.

His Excellency Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad immediately set up a Taskforce to repair spoiled electricity across the State.

Due to slow execution of the mandate of the Committee the Speaker had to made various visits and held discussions with officials of Bauchi State Ministry of Power and Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) to facilitate the Ningi power repair.

The painstaking efforts made by the Speaker yielded positive results as fund was released for the repair and the repair is being completed light is being restored to Ningi and its neighbours. 

The Speaker put the workers on proper scrutiny and supervision as he made various visits to sites of the repair to ensure progress and timely completion of the work.