Niger state House of Assembly has passed a Bill to esterblsh the Penal Code Law of the state.
By : Aminu Yunusa, Kuta.
The Niger State House of Assembly has passed a bill to establish the Penal Code Law of the State, aiming to penalize crimes defined under the law and address related matters for 2024.
This decision was made during today’s plenary session, following the presentation of the House Standing Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters report by the Chairman, Hon. Engr. Abdulrahman Bala Gambo, PhD, who represents the Borgu Constituency.
In presenting the committee’s report, the Chairman informed the House that the committee conducted meetings to study the proposed bill and made the following findings:
1. The bill seeks to review the Penal Code Law (Cap. 94) of Niger State, established in 1989.
2. It aims to provide for e speedy dispensation of justice.
3. The bill also intends to strengthen the procedures for criminal administration.
4. The bill has been passed by the 9th Assembly of this House.
The Chairman recommended that the bill, having been scrutinized and certified by the Ministry of Justice, should be adopted as proposed.
After considering the report, the House resolved into the committee of the whole and subsequently passed the bill into law.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Mohammed Sarkin-Daji, presiding over the session, commended the committee’s tireless efforts and emphasized the significance of the Penal Code Law.
Additionally, the House passed another bill to establish an agency for the registration and regulation of private health facilities in Niger State and other connected purposes for 2024.
This followed the presentation of the House Standing Committee on Health, Nutrition, and Primary Health Care report by Chairman Hon. Pharm. Umar Nasir, who represents the Paikoro Constituency, during today’s plenary session.
While presenting the report, the Chairman informed the House that the committee invited various stakeholders to a meeting on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to gather input, which formed the basis of this report.
The committee made the following findings:
1. The bill seeks to establish an agency to regulate private health facilities and remove quackery, providing quality and affordable healthcare services to the population in the state and beyond.
2. Private health facilities complement the healthcare services provided by government-owned institutions in the state, representing a vital component of the healthcare system.
3. The need to register and regulate private practices is long overdue, addressing the challenges faced in private practice and improving the quality of healthcare delivery in line with global best practices.
4. If passed into law, the bill would ensure the maintenance of professional ethics in medical practices.
5. It would also create an accurate database to guide healthcare provision and policy management for private medical practices in the state.
After the presentation, the House moved into a committee of the whole to consider the bill clause by clause, which was subsequently adopted with relevant clauses approved through a unanimous vote by the lawmakers.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Mohammed Sarkin-Daji, commended the Chairman and members of the committee for their commendable work.
