NAN-H-97
Bill
By Cecilia Ijuo
Abuja, Sept. 27, 2017 (NAN) The Bill for Act to amend the Border Communities Development Agency (Establishment) Act 2017 scaled second reading at the Senate on Wednesday.
The bill, which passed first reading on July 11, 2017, was sponsored by Sen. Abdullahi Gumel (APC-Jigawa), who led debate on it at plenary.
Gumel said that the bill would make Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) more functional in view of its importance to the wellbeing and security of border communities.
He said that the Governing Board of the agency as contained in Section 2(a-j) had not been effective due to the busy schedule of the members.
He added that the present composition of the board included Vice President as chairman and no fewer than eight ministers as members.
According to Gumel, the amendment to the Act will include 13-member board made up of a chairman and 12 other members nominated by the President, two from each geo-political zone.
“Aside the composition of the board, the bill seeks to make specific provision and expand the area coverage that BCDA can provide amenities for.
“The areas will be expanded from 15 kilometres from the international boundaries.
“In compliance with Order 77(3) of the Senate Standing Order, 2015 (as amended), the bill has no financial implication if passed.
“If this feat is achieved and it is assented to, our border communities will derive tremendous benefit from it,’’ he said.
Supporting the bill, Sen. Tijjani Kaura (APC-Zamfara) commended the effort of the sponsor of the bill.
He said that in view of the tight schedule of the members of the agency, it was imperative to amend the Act establishing it to ensure efficiency.
However, Kaura suggested that “rather than have two persons representing each geopolitical zone, thereby crowding the board, one person per zone will be better’’.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, referred the bill to the Committee on States and Local Government Administration.
The committee was given four weeks to conclude the assignment. (NAN)
CJM/OFN/OPI
Edited by Felix Nwadioha and Olisa Ifeajika