TRAFFIC WARDEN SERVICE & COUNTERFEIT AND FAKE DRUGS BILLS PASSES SECOND READING
The Senate on Thursday December 10, 2015 deliberated upon two legislations and passed same for second reading. The general principles of the Bills were exhaustively debated by distinguished Senators and thereafter the two Bills got the nod of the law-makers thus progressing to the second reading stage. The legislations that scaled through to the next legislative stage include:
A Bill for an Act to Repeal Sections 59 – 69 of the Police Act CAP 359 LFN 2004 to enact the Traffic Warden Service and for Related Matters, 2015 (S.B. 100), sponsored by Sen. Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo North) and seconded by Sen. Isiaka Adeleke (Oyo West).
Leading the debate, Sen. Abdulfatai stated that the Traffic Warden Service was established in 1974 as a noble job that entails selfless service to the fatherland. As time pass by, the profession was relegated to the background couple with the problems of obsolete laws that fall short in addressing contemporary challenges which even the Police Act of 2004 failed to remedy. The welfare of the officers is also not encouraging and career progression is equally stagnated at the post of ASP which is quite discouraging. These and many more shortcomings informed the need to amend sections 59 to 69 of the Police Act 2004 to make Traffic Warden Service an attractive and rewarding career for the nation’s teeming unemployed youths to contribute their quota to national development.
The Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Sen. Isiaka Adeleke and the Senate President lent their voices in support of the Bill; acknowledging the enormous contributions the officers have rendered in the general administration of vehicles in the country as well as protection of lives and properties couple with the restoration of orderliness and enforcement of traffic laws on the nation’s roads. The Bill ultimately sailed through second reading and has been referred to Police Affairs Committee for further legislative inputs to report back in four weeks.
Similarly, an Act to Amend the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act CAP C34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and for other matters connected therewith, 2015 (S.B. 55), sponsored by Sen. Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South) equally passed second reading on the floor of the Senate. The Bill which sought to amend and fortify the NAFDAC Bill is aimed at reducing the negative effects of counterfeit and fake drugs, foods and other unwholesome products amongst citizenry.
The Bill having enjoyed the overwhelming support of the following distinguished Senators: Barau Jibrin, Shehu Sani, Stalla Oduah, Ben Murray Bruce and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki sailed through second reading. It has been referred to the Senate Committees on Health, Drugs and Narcotics for further legislative inputs, to report back in four weeks. The Chamber has adjourned till Tuesday 15th December, 2015.