The Speaker Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman, has presided over plenary season of the Bauchi State House of Assembly on Wednesday 6th September, 2023 to deliberate on issues concerning the citizens of the state.
Summary of the proceedings during plenary of BAHA on the 6, September, 2023
1. Votes and proceedings of Tuesday 5th September, 2023 were adopted as amended by the Honourable House as moved and seconded by the Majority Leader Hon. Saleh Hodi Jibir (Disina Constituency) and the Minority Leader Hon. Bala Abdu Rishi (Lame Constituency).
2. Interim report of the joint House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and Environment on a Bill for a law to establish Bauchi State Farmers and Herders Board was laid by the Chairman House on Agriculture Hon. Daiyabu Ladan Muhammad (Ganjuwa East).
The Committee said that it had commenced the process of public hearing and engagements with relevant stakeholders for inputs on the Bill. It therefore requested the Honourable House to extend the time given to the committee to submit final report.
The Honourable House extended the timeline given to the Committee. The Committee will now submit its report after the Honourable House resumes from recess.
3. Member representing Shira Constituency Hon. Auwal Hassan moved a motion calling on the Executive Arm of Government to upgrade Yana Maternity in Shira Local Government Area to a Health Centre and provide medical staff.
Leading debate on the motion, Hon. Auwal Hassan said that Yana Maternity,
which is situated in Shira Local
Government of Bauchi State, has served as a crucial healthcare facility to his community for an extended period of time and the community wishes to seek for its upgrade to an expanded structure for satisfying the gross needs of the people.
According to him, the community acknowledges the substantial contribution of the Federal Inland
Revenue, facilitated by late esteemed community member, Alhaji Musa Ahmed Jarkasa, which resulted in the renovation and furnishing of the Maternity with vital equipment and furniture.
“You may wish to note that while the existing structure stands as a testament to our commitment to quality healthcare and well-being of our residents; the healthcare needs of our community
has evolved over time, necessitating a more comprehensive range of medical services that extend beyond the scope of a maternity facility; of paramount importance is the fact that its upgrade to a Health Center will broadened the services, which could, in turn, significantly impact on the health and welfare of our community members.
“To succeed in this, the appointment of a resident doctor at the
Center is essential in ensuring consistent and reliable medical
care as much as possible. You may wish also note that the Current maternity facility, while undergoing renovation by the Federal Inland Revenue. Before its
Completion, it was transferred to an old health centre that was built in 1978 and was renovated by my humble self as a
Constituency intervention in 2014 and is still functioning there.” He said.
Hon. Auwal Hassan therefore urged the Honourable House to request the State Government to transform Yana Maternity into an upgraded Yana Healthcare Center with State-of-the-art equipment in order to provide expanded healthcare services that can meet the diverse medical needs of the community, make posting of a resident doctor, whose presence will be pivotal in ensuring consistent and reliable medical care at Yana Heaith
Centere and enjoining House Committee on Health and Human Services to
conduct an on-the-site visit to the Centre, so as to assess its infrastructure, operations, and services provided, thereby ensuring alignment with community needs and established
standards.
He also requested that the heartfelt recognition and gratitude for the impactful intervention by the Federal Inland Revenue, led by our late community member Alhaji Musa Ahmed Jarkasa, which has significantly enhanced the facility, should be recognized by immortalizing the gesture so that his contribution in shaping it will be officially commemorated.
While seconding the motion, Majority Leader Hon. Saleh Hodi Jibir (Disina Constituency) said that the motion is timely because a patriotic citizen facilitated the construction, equipping and renovation of staff quarters of the Clinic. He suggested that the Honourable House and the Executive Arm need to write a commendation later to the family of Late Alhaji Musa Ahmed Jarkasa for his patriotic service.
Hon. Saleh Hodi Jibir recalled that Late Alhaji Musa Ahmed Jarkasa facilitated construction of drainage and 3 kilometre road in the community, thus the late hero should be eulogised. He further suggested that the House should pray for him.
The Honourable House adopted the motion. The Speaker asked the Honourable House to offer one minute prayers to late Alhaji Musa Ahmad Jarkasa and a posthumous commendation letter be written to his family.
4. Member representing Lere/Bula Constituency Hon. Abdulrashid Adamu Muazu moved a motion calling on the State Government to establish skills acquisition centre in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area.
Leading a debate on the motion, Hon. Abdulrashid Adamu Muazu said that there os no single Skills Acquisition Center in Tafawa Balewa LGA to train teeming youth in order to be
self-reliant and dependent, especially in this very harsh economic period.
He noted that skill acquisition involves training of individuals to develop entrepreneurial spirit and ideas for meaningful development, which will in turn reduce youth restiveness,
unemployment, thuggery and drugs abuse, among others, adding that if individuals are given the opportunity to
acquire necessary skills for self-reliance in the economy, it will expose them to sustainable paid self-reliant employment,
leading to improvement of their status in the constituency.
Hon. Abdulrashid Adamu Muazu lamented that some of these youths are being used by politicians to either serve as political thugs during elections o
manipulated to engage in senseless anti-government protests as a result of
their vulnerable conditions.
The Member therefore requested the Honourable House to urge the Executive Arm of Government as a matter of
urgency establish a Skills Acquisition Center at Bununu, the Headquarters of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area,
and equip it with modern facilities, also recruit skilled craftsmen and women to teach at the proposed acquisition center and the State Ministry of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises should ensure the inclusion of the project in the
Proposed Bauchi State 2024 Annual Budget Estimate.
The Honourable adopted the motion after the Speaker put the prayers into voice vote.
5. Member representing Sade Constituency Hon. Lawal Dauda moved a motion calling on the Executive Arm of Government to construct Lanzai-Papa road in Sade Constituency of Darazo Local Government Area.
Leading debate on the motion, Hon. Lawal Dauda recalled that the Bauchi State Government had sometimes in 1981 awarded the Contract
for the Construction of Lanzai Papa Road, Magama – Rishi Road, Alkaleri –
Futuk and Ningi – Burra Road, with the exception of Lanzai – Papa, the three
roads were completed and they have gone a long way in boosting the socio-
economic activities of the areas.
He informed the Honourable House that, Lanzai-Papa Road serves as a vital inter-state link, connecting Bauchi to Gombe State on that axis and notably, due to the
economic importance of the road, Gombe State has already completed their portion of the road up to the boundary point (Kafiyel) in Darazo LGA and this development is underscoring the importance of completing the Bauchi State portion.
According to him, Lanzai-Papa Road, stretching over a considerable distance of about 45km long was once
envisioned to be a vital infrastructure connecting distant communities, however, the execution of the road construction has not spoken well enough
to the affected areas, resulting in a mere 30% completion as all culverts and
waterways in the construction process of the road were constructed which
left communities longing for the anticipated benefits of improved
connectivity and accessibility.
“Sadly, due to the chronic mismanagement of resources as well as adequate commitment by past administrations, the project was ultimately abandoned, leaving behind an incomplete road that stands as a testament to the challenges faced in realizing crucial infrastructural developments across the entire communities.
“The existing challenge of limited accessibility faced by over 48 thousand residents spread across 37 communities along the Lanzai-Papa Road corridor, from Lanzai to Kafiyel Village emphasizing that the construction of this road is pivotal in transforming the lives of our peasant farmers, granting them the means to bring their produce to markets and thereby bolstering local
agricultural activities.” He said.
Hon. Lawal Dauda gave highlight of the rich and untapped natural resources present in this area, including valuable deposits of high-grade kaolin, natural spring water points at Palkata/Zobo forest, dormant fuel resources, anda significant population of wild-life species and the potential of the road alongside local irrigation practices.
He therefore requested the Honourable House to request the the Bauchi State
Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Distinguished
Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad to prioritize the immediate construction of the Lanzai-Papa Road to enhance accessibility and economic opportunities for over 48 thousand residents and 37 local communities situated along the
road and unlocked the potentials of the abundant natural resources, such as
high-grade kaolin, natural spring water points, fuel resources.
The Honourable House adopted the motion.
6. Member representing Chiroma Constituency Hon. Ahmad Maikudi Yahaya moved a motion on the need for rehabilitation of Darazo-Kari-Misau-Itas/Gadau-Giade-Shira-Azare-Gamawa road in order to alleviate the sufferings of the road users.
Leading debate on the motion, Hon. Ahmed Maikudi Yahaya said that the Kari-Misau-Giade-Yana-Adamami-Zigau; and Misau-Zadawa-Zabi-Azare Roads have been in a state of disrepair, with
deep potholes, and due to their bad nature, have become deaths trap for innocent commuters and residents of the communities along the road.
He explained that during the rainy seasons, the roads are nearly
impassable thereby slowing down economic activities of the entire areas and those roads have defied all rehabilitative attempts by the previous Governments, since the late Shehu
Shagari’s Administration of blessed memory and despite appeals to successive administrations by
the relevant concerned citizens and stakeholders, the roads
remain in a state of disrepair.
He lamented that, there has been a high shortfall in farming activities as farmers, investors and consumers trying to tap into the agrarian endowment of those communities either fall victims
of insecurity or most frequently, fatal accidents and that, the continued neglect of the roads has deprived
the people of the affected areas much revenue which they would have earned and utilized to improve their lives.
According to him, unless urgent steps are taken by the State Government to address the deplorable conditions of the roads, economic activities in the various communities along the roads
may wind up resulting to lawlessness, negative social, economic and political consequences.
Hon. Ahmed Maikudi Yahaya therefore urged the Honourable House to request the Executive Arm, to as a matter of urgency, award contract for the rehabilitation of Misau-Zadawa-
Zabi-Azare road in order to alleviate the daily sufferings of the road users and
Mandate the House Committees on Works & Transport; and Appropriations to liaise with the State Ministry of Works and Transport to include the project
in the proposed 2024 Annual Budget Estimates; and request the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing,
and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to embark on Rehabilitation of Kari-Misau-Giade-Yana-Adamami-Zigau federal road.
While seconding the motion, Hon. Mubarak Haruna Jama’are Constituency said the motion is timely but however asked whether the Honourable House has the power to ask the Federal Agencies to rehabilitate the road.
7. Member representing Katagum Constituency Hon. Bello Muhammad Maiwa moved a motion calling for the relocation of Gara village in Katagum District of Zaki Local Government Area.
Leading debate on the motion, Hon. Bello Muhammad Maiwa said that Gara, one of the oldest settlements in Zaki Local Government Area is a demographic densily area close to a riverside and the Village has been experiencing a high degree of
flood disaster almost each and every year
According to him, people living in the village were strongly advised by individuals, groups and Local Government representatives to see reasons and relocate to any other part of the Local Government.
He added that most people of that community lost their produce and
properties annually but still they refused to relocate from there to other
nearby community of the Local GOvernment Area.
Hon. Muhammad Bello Maiwa stated that large percentage of the causes of relocation are not solely base on money, or lack of qualitative infrastructure but some people have the believe that relocation has some certain consequences that need to be considered.
He therefore believed that the village
needs to be relocated and this cannot be possible without Government intervention because it’s a typical
rural area where developmental project is not viable to be cited especially educational and Technological Project.
The Member noted that civil and ethnic crises as well as religious crises that cause relocations of villages of this kind are not the case in that area, but the only reason is that flood is devastating the entire environment lead to the total collapse of the community and the village can be resettled or relocated so that people of the area can be able to access any kind of development.
He said that people of the village may not find it easy, hence calling on the Government to intervene because because if it is not relocated in few years to come the village will become history.
The Honourable House adopted the motion.
8. The Honourable House adjourned to tomorrow 7th, September, 2023 as moved and seconded by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader.
