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  • Nigeria’s value addition bill targets N2.3trillion GDP

    Nigeria’s value addition bill targets N2.3trillion GDP

    “Today it’s fashionable to talk about the New Economy, or the Information Economy, or the Knowledge Economy. But when I think about the imperatives of this market, I view today’s economy as the Value Economy. Adding value has become more than just a sound business principle; it is both the common denominator and the competitive edge.” … Arthur Levitt Jr., a former Chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is targeting a 17% year-on-year growth in real output, thereby pursuing an increase in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to N23.2 trillion by implementing a new Bill mandating 30% value addition to raw materials before export.

     One of the premises of this target is that, according to the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s real GDP in 2024 averaged N19.83 trillion, when Quarter-on-Quarter performance stood at N18.28 trillion, N18.29 trillion, N20.12 trillion, and N22.61trillion for Q1 to Q4 of the preceding year. Therefore, an increase of 17% in the average real output would push GDP to N23.2 trillion. It is an ambitious target, but achievable if the foundation and strategic pillars are properly set; and if the process of legislation is appropriate, and the consequent policy is well implemented, end-to-end. In my view, this is a very important step in the right direction. I am therefore in support of the Bill.

     As the engine room of incubation and development of innovation and materials and in Nigeria; the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), will play a key “focal point” role to upscale the value of our production, industrial growth to international standards and more importantly to make our products to be effectively competitive, sellable and acceptable. This will surely add value to our export earnings, enable the achievement of the “Nigeria First” policy of President Bola Tinubu, and consequently significantly upscale our GDP by ensuring sustainability.

     Accordingly, on July 2, 2025, the Nigerian Senate approved an amendment to the Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act, 2022, which will mandate that exporters must process at least 30% of raw materials locally before exporting.

     As the bill undergoes legislation, I advise on some key points to note.

     The Value Addition Policy and Nigeria’s Competitiveness in the Global Market

    According to a Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum, Nigeria scored 48.33 points out of 100 (48.33%) in 2019.  Before then, the Competitiveness Index in Nigeria averaged 13.81 Points from 2007 until 2019, reaching an all-time high of 48.33 Points in 2019 and a record low of 3.37 Points in 2011. These are key indications of how important the value addition policy will be to upscaling the competitiveness of Nigeria’s products and services in the continental and global arena.

     If the value addition policy is successful, our products and services will be more competitive in the international market. For example, in the agriculture sector, fruits, vegetables, and even flowers from Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, India, etc., are very competitive in the international market. But Nigerian exporters are not competitive due to value addition, post-harvest/ post-production challenges like poor storage, poor logistics and supply chain infrastructure and systems, use of some pesticides during planting or post-harvest, etc. Consequently, a lot of Nigerian products and services are rejected or underpriced. Therefore, the value addition is a welcome development if properly formulated. More importantly, if the policy is well implemented.

    Reversing Trade Deficits to become a Trade Surplus

    Essentially, Nigeria cannot achieve its socio-economic objectives by just exporting raw materials, products, and services without value addition. I also strongly believe that the value addition policy, if properly implemented, will significantly change our trade deficits to become trade surpluses, putting us at a better advantage in international trade and investment to rein in more foreign direct investments.

     Technology Transfer and Job Creation

    In addition, the value addition policy will anchor foreign investors to situate their industries within Nigeria, thereby ensuring employment for our teeming youth, ensuring technology transfer and achieving economic values within the country and exports with concomitant effect on our economy, while also ensuring sustainability.

     Standardisation

    In my view, during the process of Legislation, some germane questions should be addressed as stakeholders distill the “30%” value addition within the framework of the Bill. For example, what are the standards? What makes up 30% value addition, in terms of the products? What are the standards for that 30% value addition? Because, in my view, value addition should also encompass storage, logistics and supply chain, infrastructure, facilities, and systems, etc. This is, because value addition will be useless if, for example, in the case of agri-products, by the time you move the products to the seaport or airport for export, having added the value, the products have degraded in quality, and therefore will not be competitive or will not even be sellable or acceptable in the global market.

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     So, I hope that there will be clear definitions and boundaries of standards with regard to value addition. It is also crucial that almost all our national policies key into an overarching national development strategy, in terms of industrialization, trade, and investment, etc. This is very important, so that there will be policy coordination and policy coherence as the Bill undergoes legislation, such that when enacted into law, the policy will not be in conflict with other Bills or policies that are already in place, and if so, for a realignment or streamlining to be done to ensure success.

     Policy Consultation and Strategy

    We need a robust Bill that is successful. Hence, I am calling for coherence in our policy formulation and reforms. Meanwhile, while contemplating this Bill, the following questions should also guide our thoughts: What is Nigeria’s trade policy? What is our Trade Policy? What are the key drivers of our strategies? The correct answers to those questions will ensure the achievement of the targeted 17% year-on-year growth in GDP through this new Bill.

     Appropriately, in formulating this policy, we should be very deliberate and visionary in our target setting in strategy. I believe this is achievable if we do the right things at the right time and have the right people doing them.

     There should be policy consultation so that we are well coordinated to achieve the desirable objective(s), i.e., economic recovery, economic growth, and sustainable economic development. 

    Infrastructure

    Infrastructure is crucial to the achievement of this very laudable bill. Particularly, logistics and supply chain platforms and systems (land, sea, and air), intermodal transportation networks, storage, etc., are also key to the success of the value addition policy. As an illustration, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has stated that over 50% of the agricultural products we produce in Nigeria get wasted from the farmland to the market or even to the dining table. Therefore, value addition and bridging the infrastructure deficit are crucial to our national economic diversification strategy, achieving the N2.3 trillion GDP, and also achieving the $1 trillion economy target set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. So, I hope that the foundation laying and the strategic pillars setting will key into an overarching national strategy, so that we are moving lockstep in the right direction, to achieve successful legislation and passage of this laudable Bill, and effective implementation.

     Power/ Energy as a Sine Qua Non

    Earlier on, I stated that value addition cannot be achieved without infrastructure in terms of power. Nigeria is lagging far behind in terms of meeting its power/energy requirements for any meaningful economic turnaround, growth, and development.

     I am very happy that President Tinubu, early in his administration in 2025, as one of the first set of laws he signed into law, passed the law that enables all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria, to generate, transmit, and distribute their power/energy capacities to drive socio-economic development. Thus, I want to see value innovation by the State Governors. I also expect decisiveness by the federal and state governments in result-oriented moves to ensure that we have enough power/ energy that will recover and sustain our industrial sector, and the Micro-Small-and-Medium scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in the short to mid-term, even if it is in a phased fashion. Our expectation is that between now and the end of the 2nd quarter to next year, governments at the federal and state levels are able to generate, distribute, transmit, and more power/energy for industries.

     Infrastructure Connectivity and Interlinks

    Furthermore, as stated earlier, the other critical infrastructure, i.e., intermodal transportation, rural feeder roads and bridges, logistics and supply chain, are critical to the success of the value addition policy. When production/ processing/value addition is completed, the efficient and safe movement of products from production location to the market, whether domestic or international, is also critical in the value chain. Therefore, the qualities and standard of the road network, and airports (passenger and cargo) we build, should fit into our short to long-term socio-economic visions and strategies to support and sustain the economy.  It is very important for us to also have effective interlinks between land, air, and sea transportation systems so that we are able to succeed in a timely and coordinated manner.

     This administration has a target of another two years until the 2027 general election. If we modularize our strategy, we will be able to achieve a lot before 2027.

  • That bill on indigeneship 

    That bill on indigeneship 

    • Time not ripe to bring up such a law

    Two words have proved very sensitive in Nigerian socio-political context for decades now — indigenes and settlers.

    While some contend that Nigeria ought to have matured to the point of all feeling free enough to step into full rights wherever they are settled, others hold the view that cultural identity conferred by heritage and language  cannot be passed on to people who came to settle from other communities, far or near.

    It is against this background that the bill being sponsored in the House of Representatives by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, has stirred another debate among the lawmakers and outside. Coming at a time when cultural identity and land ownership is at the centre of the conflict in parts of Bokkos and Bassa local government areas of Plateau State, the bill is worth careful consideration by the two houses of the National Assembly, in consultation with the general public.

    The bill’s sponsor contends that residency should be enough for citizens of Nigeria to be admitted to full rights wherever they may be settled. Besides, marriage is expected to integrate a wife to the community of her husband. But, this is more theoretical than practical. We therefore advise that the bill be withdrawn now in the interest of peace and unity. There are justifiable fears that if this is allowed now, some people who are more adept at moving from one part of the country to another could displace the original inhabitants and this could create or prolong bad blood that would last ages.

    In Plateau State, the Berom have been up in arms against the Hausa-Fulani who migrated and settled in parts of the state, including Jos North. This has led to relentless blood shedding that even intermarriage has been unable to curb. This was the same with Ife-Modakeke communities in Osun State, communities around the boundaries of Ebonyi and Benue states, and the Aguleri-Umuleri inhabitants of Anambra State.

    Communal clashes are not limited to Nigeria. The red Indians of the United States sought and obtained some guarantees of their cultural independence that reflect in their political rights. Besides, in some states, local offices are reserved for indigenes only.

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    In Spain that has a long history of such crises, no one would dare introduce a Bill among the Basque nationalists without provoking another round of fight. Yet, Spain is a developed country. The Scots and Welsh are mindful of their identity and political autonomy.

    It would therefore be unthinkable to seek a law that would obliterate cultural identity. The Northern Ireland crisis was only settled not long ago, with enough guarantees for Irish nationalism.

    We concede that Nigeria should grow into a nation where there are equal rights for all, but we cannot pretend to be there yet. There is still a long way to go. We must be given enough time to work at it, otherwise things could get worse. All tiers of government have to begin aggressive programme of promoting integration among the various peoples of the country.

    At the moment, many are suspicious of the motive behind introduction of the bill, and feel that it was not informed by the purest of intentions. It is, therefore best that the bill be withdrawn now while Nigerians realise that we have a duty to promote interethnic harmony more than a century after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates.

  • Bill seeking to create establishment of additional southeast state scales second reading

    Bill seeking to create establishment of additional southeast state scales second reading

    The House of Representatives on Thursday, July 11, passed for second reading a bill proposing the creation of Etiti state from the five states in the South East.

    The new state would encompass 11 existing local government areas from the region.

    Leading the debate, one of the bill’s sponsors, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, emphasized that the creation of the state would bring the southeast in line with the other zones of the country.

    The co-sponsors of the bill include Hon. Miriam O. Onuoha, Hon. Kama Nkemkama, Hon. Princess C. Nnabuife, and Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu.

    Ogah pointed out that while other regions in the country have six states, with the North West having seven, the South East remains the only zone with five states.

    Okay said: “It is not news that the current structure of the Southeast region with just five states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—as against other regions of the country which have no fewer than six states, has been a subject of debate and advocacy for reconfiguration. 

    “The creation of Etiti State is a proactive step towards aligning the region with the structural realities of its other 5 sister regions in the country.  Suffice it to say that is a long overdue step in the right direction to foster equitable representation, enhance governance efficiency, and promote socio-economic development within the region. 

    “Let us bear in mind that the Southeast, with its rich cultural heritage and strategic economic potential, deserves a governance framework that optimally serves its diverse communities. 

    “The creation of Etiti State will facilitate more targeted development initiatives, better resource allocation, and improved service delivery to the people.”

    He said the Bill seeks to address a longstanding issue of regional parity and administrative efficiency within the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, adding that it proposes an alteration to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to accommodate the creation of Etiti State, thereby increasing the number of states in the south-east geopolitical zone to six.

    He said: “The establishment of Etiti State is not just a matter of administrative convenience but a step towards ensuring balanced regional development and effective governance.  It responds to the aspirations of the people of a very important region in this country and aligns with the principles of equity and inclusivity enshrined in our democratic ideals.

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    The Bill proposes specific alterations to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, such as the amendment of Section 3(1) to increase the number of states from thirty-six to thirty-seven by inserting “Etiti” immediately after “Enugu”.

    The bill is also seeking consequential alterations in the First Schedule, Part I, which includes — Carving out Isuikwuato and Umunneochi LGAs from Abia; Orumba North and Orumba South LGAs from Anambra; Ivo and Ohaozara LGAs from Ebonyi; Aninri, Awgu and Oji River LGAs from Enugu; and Okigwe and Onuimo LGAs from Imo States to form the new Etiti State; and designation of Lokpanta as the capital city of Etiti State.

    He stressed that the creation of Etiti State represents a unique opportunity to strengthen our federal structure, empower our communities, and foster national unity.

  • Bill to establish Obafemi/Owode vocational skills university scales second reading

    Bill to establish Obafemi/Owode vocational skills university scales second reading

    The House of Representatives has passed for second reading the bill seeking the establishment of Oba Obafemi Owode Vocational Skills and Entrepreneurship University, in Obafemi/Owode local government area of Ogun state.

    The bill is sponsored by the chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun). 

    Leading the debate on the Bill, Osoba said the establishment of the University in Owode was not just a mere legislative action; but a crucial step towards realizing the aspirations of the people and advancing the agenda of legislative House. 

    According to him, Nigeria, like many developing countries, faces the challenge of high youth unemployment and underemployment, adding that despite various policy interventions aimed at addressing this issue, the results have been far from satisfactory.

    Osoba said: “We now stand at a juncture where we have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our youth and the future of our nation. 

    “The proposed university aligns perfectly with President Tinubu’s vision of promoting vocational skills and entrepreneurship as drivers of economic growth and social development.

    “By equipping our youth with practical skills and knowledge in areas such as agriculture, technology, manufacturing, and services, we not only prepare them for the demands of the modern economy but also empower them to create their own opportunities and contribute meaningfully to society. 

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    “Moreover, the timing of this initiative couldn’t be more auspicious. As Nigeria continues to experience rapid economic growth and industrialization, there is an increasing demand for skilled workers in various sectors. 

    “From renewable energy to information technology, from healthcare to construction, the industries of tomorrow require a workforce that is not only technically proficient but also entrepreneurial and innovative. 

    “By establishing the Obafemi Owode vocational skills and entrepreneurship University, we are not just creating another institution of higher learning; we are laying the foundation for a brighter future for our nation. 

    “We are giving our youth a sense of purpose and belonging, steering them away from the path of crime and violence, and empowering them to become agents of positive change in their communities”.

  • Tinubu writes Reps, seek passage of Bill to improve judicial officers welfare

    Tinubu writes Reps, seek passage of Bill to improve judicial officers welfare

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the National Assembly to consider and pass a new Bill seeking to provide new salaries and allowances for the nation’s judicial officers.

    In a letter read yesterday during plenary by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the President said the Bill seeks to proscribe salaries and allowances as well as other fringe benefits for judicial officers.

    There has been an agitation for an improvement in the salaries, allowances, and other welfare package of Nigeria’s judicial officers, prompting the President to promise an improvement to the welfare payments of judicial officers.

    The Executive Bill forwarded by the President is titled: “A Bill for An Act to Prescribe the Salaries, Allowances and Fringe Benefits of Judicial Office Holders in Nigeria and for Related Matters.”

    The President’s letter, titled: Transmission of the Judicial Office Holders’ Salaries and Allowances, Etc, Bill 2024, and dated March 19, 2024, reads: “In accordance with the provisions of Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), I forward, herewith, the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Bill, 2024 for the kind consideration of the House of Representatives.

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    “The Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Bill, 2024 seeks to prescribe salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for judicial officers, to end the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration and to reflect contemporary socio-economic realities.

    “The Bill, which establishes a new legal framework for the remuneration of judicial officers, will also ensure significant improvement in the welfare, capacity and independence of the Judiciary.

    “Whilst I hope that the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Bill, 2024 will be carefully yet expeditiously considered and passed by the House of Representatives, please accept, Rt. Hon. Speaker, the assurances of my highest esteem.”

  • Reps bill for polls in one day passes second reading

    Reps bill for polls in one day passes second reading

    A bill for the amendment of the Electoral Act to provide for the conduct of the general election in one day was yesterday passed for ‘Second Reading’ in the House of Representatives.

    The intention of the bill is for  presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and Houses of Assembly elections to hold in one day.

    Following it’s passage for second reading, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Electoral Matters, which is expected to conduct a public hearing on it and the other electoral amendment bills before the House.

    The sponsor of the bill, Franscis Waive (APC Delta), said conducting the polls in a day will reduce cost and the band wagon effect associated with elections.

    He said the amendment became necessary because of the litigations associated with the 2023 general election.

    Waive said the 2022 Electoral Act was enacted by the National Assembly to ensure the credibility of the electoral process and ensure that the results of polls are acceptable to Nigerians.

    He said there was the need to correct some obvious defects in the law and get the nation prepared for future polls.

    Waive said Section 10 (3) of the 2022 Electoral Act should be amended to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise a full-scale voter registration every 10 years and  the continuous registration of those who clocked 18.

    He said the amendment to the section became necessary as the revalidation by the commission at intervals is not enough to remove those not eligible to be on the voters register.

    Waive said the current system of revalidation cannot give Nigerians a clean register.

    The legislator maintained that conducting elections on two separate days had put so much pressure on the Nigerians and their businesses because the country is always shut down.

    Waive said: “If the country can conduct three elections in one day, we can also conduct the five elections on the same day.”

    He also proposed an amendment to Section 60 of the Act, which deals with the electronic transmission of election results, saying the current provisions have some loopholes which were exploited by litigants after the 2023 elections.

    He said the provision in the law should be made more specific to allow the Presiding Officer transmit electronically election results and accreditation process.

    He said the National Assembly should not make laws that are vague.

    Waive lamented the frivolous cases arising from last year’s elections, saying: “Some people had more than three cases at the tribunal and they had to pursue these cases to the last.

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    “You find out that someone who got 1,000 votes will be going to court to challenge someone who scored 60,000 votes and you wonder what he intends to gain.

    “Some governorship cases went up to the Supreme Court. The law should impose heavy fine on those who bring frivolous petitions before the courts. This will discourage such act, thereby reducing the cost of elections”.

    Supporting the amendment, Jossy Onuakalosi (LP, Lagos) said the National Assembly should ensure a credible process whereby representatives are elected during elections in a way that the courts would not have to upturn them.

    He also said the law should be amended to  address delay associated with the announcement of election results, adding that electronic transmission of results will trigger litigations.

    Also contributing, Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano) faulted the provision that disqualify eligible voters who are not accredited as a result of failure of the machine.

    He said eligible voters should not be punished for the malfunction of machine, which is the  fault of the electoral commission.

    Madaki said the law should ensure that such people are allowed to vote.

    However, Waive disagreed with Madaki, saying that if such is allowed, it may be abused.

  • Bill to establish National Flood Management Agency passes first reading

    Bill to establish National Flood Management Agency passes first reading

    A Bill for the establishment of the National Flood Management Agency has passed first reading in the House of Representatives.

    The  Bill is sponsored by the member representing Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency of Edo State, Hon. Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie, who is also the Chairman House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream).

    Leading the argument on the general principles of the Bill, Hon. Okojie stated that the best pragmatic approach to mitigating flood in Nigeria is only possible through the establishment of a National Flood Management Agency. 

    He further noted that the National Flood Management Agency (Establishment) Bill, will provide better and more sustainable flood management strategies for the Nation.

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    While reeling out the objectives of the Bill, the lawmaker posited that the Agency, when established, will act as a central planning, organizing, and flood management agency; carry-out research and development for effective National flood erosion risk management control; coordinate all flood related activities, such as planning, prevention and management of flood risks; advise the Federal Government on policy issues to mitigate flood in Nigeria among other responsibilities.

    “Statistics has shown that flood related matters has worsened in Nigeria over the years with more than 9.5 Million persons affected and over 2,400 lives loss as FCT and 27 other states in the Country are becoming highly probable flood risk states.” Hon. Okojie added.

    The National Flood Management Bill makes it a total of five(5) Bills so far moved by Hon. Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie since his assumption of office. They include; a Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal College of Education Act to Establish the Federal College of Education Ugboha and for Other Related Matters, Edo State; a Bill for an Act to Establish the National Institute for Agricultural Research, Oria, Edo State; a Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Medical Centers Act 2022 to Establish the Federal Medical Centre, Uromi, Edo State and a Bill to amend the National Steel Council Act (2004) to include the Functions of the Board, Qualification of the Executive Secretary and other related Matters thereto (2023).

    Meanwhile, Nigerians have hailed the good legislative performances of the Federal Lawmaker representing Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency of Edo State, Hon. Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie.

    The commendation is coming in, following the National Flood Management (Establishment) Bill that  scaled through first reading at the PLENARY in the House of Representatives today, 23rd November, 2023.

  • 2024 Appropriation Bill for presentation next month

    2024 Appropriation Bill for presentation next month

    • Senate to engage finance minister Wed.

    The Senate said yesterday that President Bola Tinubu will present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly in November.

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Solomon Adeola, gave this hint in an interview after the committee’s inaugural meeting. He said the National Assembly is expecting the Federal Government to present the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy (MTEF-FSP) next week for proper scrutiny.

    Adeola also hinted that his panel had invited the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, for a meeting next week Wednesday. He assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would try to ensure that the 2024 budget comprises 55 per cent capital expenditure.

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    Adeola said the 10th Senate would maintain the January to December budget cycle, which the Ninth National Assembly started.

    He said: “This new administration has a new mantra that encapsulates its vision, and there must be challenges. We will do a thorough job on the budget. Our job is to verify the budget to ensure it meets the expectations of the people. We will look into it thoroughly.

    “We are expecting the MTEF next week and immediately we receive the document, the Committee on Finance will start work. The Finance Minister and the Minister of Budget and Planning are working round the clock. I assure you we won’t break the tradition, we will have the budget as and when due. We will keep to the tradition of January to December budget cycle.  “

  • Stakeholders beg 10th Assembly to revive electoral offence bill

    Stakeholders beg 10th Assembly to revive electoral offence bill

    The 10th National Assembly has been urged to revive the Electoral Offences Commission Bill that was presented in the 9th Assembly but failed to pass.

    According to stakeholders, the bill when passed, would boost the turnout of future elections because it would handle cases of electoral violence in all parts of the country.

    Policy expert and Associate Professor of political history at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Adetunji Ogunyemi, said the bill would prevent all manner of thuggery, coercion and vote suppression within the system.

    He said this on Wednesday, September 27, in Abuja at a High-level symposium on electoral security held by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) in collaboration with United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Palladium, titled, ‘assessing the electoral security management towards legal reforms’.

    Ogunyemi said: “In 2019 the Senate presented the Electoral Offences  Commission Bill which sought to apprehend all manners of infractions of the Electoral Act, particularly infractions in respect of section 221, 225 and 227 of the Constitution in respect of people constituting organisations to levy force or levy violence or coerce people to refrain from voting for or to vote directly for some other persons in such could be apprehended.

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    “Unfortunately the bill was only passed by the Senate but not concord to by the House of Representatives, which meant that the bill did not succeed.

    “The Electoral bill must be resuscitated, the time has come for the current Senate to adopt the bill because its going to prevent all manners of thuggery, coercion and vote suppression within the system.”

    Team lead KDI, Bukola Idowu said they are hoping that the Electoral Offences Commission Bill would include a tribunal whose sole aim would be the prosecution of perpetrators of electoral violence.

    He also added: “The essence of this programme is basically to bring stakeholders together from the Ministry of Justice, the Executive, Security agencies and the Electoral Commission, all the stakeholders around the elections to see how we can forge ahead around election security.

    “You will agree with me that in 2023 election we had issues of electoral violence intimidation, and suppression. And this has been one of the things affecting the turnout in election. You look at the 2023 election, you find out that the turnout was low. And what it means is that people are not participating.

    “One of the reasons is because of electoral violence, one of the things we’re also looking at today is to see how the election offence commission bill can be revived in the 10th Assembly because it did not see the light of the day in the 9th Assembly.”

  • Bill will promote efficient use of water

    The Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission says the National Water Resources Bill, if passed will ensure provision of potable water and promote its efficient use in the country.

    Mr Peter Onoja, the Acting Executive Director of the commission, made this known in a report titled: “Implementation of Effective Regulations of Water Resources in Nigeria”, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, January 11, 2019 in Abuja.

    Onoja added that the bill would also ensure the safety of drinking water and to protect public from contracting water related diseases.

    He said that water regulatory systems under the bill would be catalytic to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 and achieved the universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

    SDG 6, which is one of the 17 SDGs established by the UN in 2015, aims at ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all people by 2030.

    According to Onoja, the enactment of the water bill by the National Assembly and the President can fast track the achievement of the SDG 6.

    He said that the regulation of water sector in the country was imminent to eliminate irregularities, stressing that the commission was duly committed to work toward it.