ZAMFARA ASSEMBLY PASSES 40 BILLS IN TWO AND HALF YEARS
The Zamfara State House of Assembly says has it passed 40 bills in two and half years while 30 others were under scrutiny.
The Speaker, Alhaji Nasiru Magarya made disclosure on Tuesday while receiving Gov. Bello Matawalle who presented 2022 appropriation bill of N160 billion to the assembly for approval.
“The Sixth assembly under my leadership in the two and half years succeeded in accomplishing unprecedented achievements and recorded successes in terms of lawmaking, oversight and representation.
“Some of the recently celebrated laws assented by the Executive Governor are Public Private Partnership Law, State and Local Government Audit Law as well as a law Prohibiting all Forms of Distractions of Young Persons During School Hours among other numerous bills.
“All these successes would not have been possible without the support and corporation we enjoy from the parliamentary staff.
“Let me also appraise Gov. Matawalle for the annual payment of outfit allowances to the staff of the house.
“We also crave your indulgence to approve the payment of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) to motivate our dedicated staff.
“To this end legislature as an independent arm of government needs to be fully strengthened to equate the position of the Clerk to the full status of the Head of Service of the State.
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” The Deputy Clerk to enjoy full benefits of a Permanent Secretary In the State Civil Service and Directors of the State House of Assembly to enjoy the benefits of Executive Directors in the Civil Service Scheme.
“I believe when this is done it will go along way in boosting the morale of the parliamentary staff and will ensure optimal productivity of their services because to whom much is given much is also expected.
“Your excellency, we please solicit for your support in these requests, we are not unmindful of your excellency’s giant strides for making us proud as first among equals in terms of not just a befitting office accommodation but also one of the best in the country,” he said.
According to the speaker, the appropriation bill is one of the most important documents which every government needs to develop its social economic status in providing a better wellbeing of its populace.
“The State government under Gov. Matawalle has presented some executive bills on social protection cushion the hash economic effects on people.
“The state legislature has also commended the efforts of the State Government and its quest on the on-going construction of the Ultra Modern International Cargo Airport which will further stimulate economic growth.
“In light of the above, the Legislature is calling on the state to develop a 10-year strategic development plan reflecting activities of all MDA’s to attract foreign direct investments.
“Not quite long the house graciously accepted your request by trimming the 2021 budget by about 20 per cent from the initial N145 Billion earlier projected to about N127 billion which was necessitated by the security challenges and shortfall of revenue drive of the state.
“May I use this rare opportunity to call upon the state government under your leadership to intensify efforts in revenue generation to augment the monthly federation allocation to the state.
“This is taking into cognisance that this House enacted laws as avenues you need to generate more revenue into the state coffers by passing into law, the revenue generation and utilisation law, ” Magariya said.
The speaker said that the law had given the government all needed powers and legal frameworks to generate revenues and also block leakages that will hinder revenue sourcing.
He said the legislative arm had enacted laws, particularly empowering revenue generating agencies to deal with economic saboteurs and tax defaulters in the state.
“May I call on all revenue generating agencies of the State, particularly state owned tertiary institutions to henceforth remit all funds realized from sales of admission forms, registration exercises and accommodation fees to the state Single Treasury Account(TSA),”Magarya said.
