• …Commend Executive on Transmission of Bills on Climate Change Agency, Oil Producing Area Amendment, five others

The Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf has applauded the decision of the State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for the transmission of the new Executive Bills currently under consideration in the Assembly.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker quoted Rt Hon Umar to have made the commendation shortly before putting to vote the matter of whether the bills should be read for a second time by the clerk following an exhaustive contribution by members of the Assembly.

In his reaction during Wednesday’s plenary, the Speaker said the Climate Change Agency Establishment Bill is noble, in view of the harm that the depletion of the hozone layer has continued to cause to the environment, the statement further stressed.

The Speaker had earlier announced that the state legislature would take the fight against climate change seriously going forward and informed the members that they would take the lead in tree planting exercises as a symbolic gesture in celebrating 2025 World Climate Action.

In his words, “line with the activities marking the year 2025 world Environmental day by Kogi State Government under the leadership of Kogi State Government Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.

“The Federal Government in collaboration with all States Government are planning to plant twenty (20) Billion trees for the purpose of environmental protection and maintenance; as such, we are taking the bull by horn by keying into the agenda by kick – starting planting of economic fruits yielding trees in the House of Assembly premises for the purpose of a healthy environmental management and protection.

The Bill for a Law to Provide for the Restriction of Heavy Duty Trucks Movements in Lokoja Metropolis and other Matters connected Thereto, 2025, also elicited passionate contributions with members stressing that it is long overdue.

They described how the unregulated movement of the trucks have continued to claim lives of innocent citizens, particularly students of higher institutions, and it was a step in the right direction.

The Speaker also noted the efforts of the present administration in ensuring the situation was nipped in the bud by the decision to create an alternative route for students of the Federal University Lokoja through Felele bypass.

Other bills that were read a second time include a Bill For a Law to Amend the Kogi State Commodity Exchange Export Promotion and Market Development Agency Law, 2024, A Bill for a Law Establishimg the Kogi State Bureau of Lands and Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2025 and a Bill for a Law to Repeal the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency Law, 2005 and Enact the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency Law, 2025.

The rest are a Bill for a Law to Amend the Kogi State Oil Producing Area Development Commission Law, 2023, and a Bill for a Law to Repeal the Local Government Electoral Law, 2004 and Enact the Kogi State Local Government Electoral Law, 2025.

The bills have all been committed to relevant committees, and public hearings have been scheduled for each.