Bauchi Assembly Passes Bill Establishing Environmental Trust Fund
Bauchi Assembly Passes Bill Establishing Environmental Trust Fund
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Bauchi State House of Assembly has Passed a Bill for the Establishment of an Environmental Trust Tund to Curb Desertification.
Mr Bakoji Bobbo, the Minority leader of the house who presented the report of the house committee on Forestry and Environment at plenary on Tuesday in Bauchi.
He said the report was on a bill to establish the State environmental trust fund to mitigate desertification.
“The house on 10th of September last year, during its plenary, referred the bill to the house committee on forestry and environment for scrutiny after it has passed the first and second reading.
“The report said copies of the bill were made available to stakeholders on Environmental matters for smooth and effective scrutiny as part of methodology adopted by the house committee.
“It said suggestions, amendments and observations were received by the committee,” he said.
Bobbo revealed that damages caused by flood disaster were enormous in the state hence the need to provide ways of prevention.
He further explained that the total estimated costs of damages on houses, farmlands, worship centres and other structures worth billions of Naira which exceeded the capacity of the state government to handle alone.
He opined that when the Trust Fund is established, it will raise funds from individuals, international donor organizations and authorities with a view to tackling the problem.
“The Fund apart from tackling Environmental problems, it will also assist in promoting and creating job opportunities for the teaming unemployed youths through waste management and wastes recycling business.
“The fund, when established, will also attract support to the government with grants and resources from national and international donor organizations.
The passage of the bill followed a unanimous voice vote put to the members by the Speaker, Mr Abubakar Suleiman who presided over the plenary put the motion for adoption.
He directed the Clerk of the house to communicate same to the Executive.
