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HOUSE OF REPS URGE FERMA TO REHABILITATE THE DILAPIDATED ABUJA-KANO ROAD

HOUSE OF REPS URGE FERMA TO REHABILITATE THE DILAPIDATED ABUJA-KANO ROAD
A Federal Lawmaker, Hon. Aliyu Madaki has prayed the House of Representatives to urge to Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to urgently commence the rehabilitation and repair of the dilapidated Abuja-Kano High way. While imploring  his colleagues to consider the matter as urgent, he informed the House during plenary session on Thursday, October 13, 2016 that the road which links and gives access to commercial activities that affects both the economy and the people has become a death trap for commuters. Lending his voice to the motion, the Chairman Committee on FERMA, Hon. Jerry Alagboso informed that huge sum of money has been budgeted and released for the rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kano road by the Ministry of Works, adding that work will soon commence on the road. 

Still on Thursday’s plenary, the House debated and passed for second reading a Bill that seeks to alter section 292(1) of the 1999 Constitution to include the National Judicial Council in the procedure for the removal of Head of Courts. The Sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Datti Garba argued that leaving absolutely the removal of Head of Courts such as the Chief Judge of a State at the discretion of the either the Governor or the President would affect the ability of the Judge in discharging the functions of his or her office. He highlighted that there was need to ensure consistency in the way and manner Heads of Judiciary are dismissed from office if found culpable in any professional misconduct. The Lawmaker stated that empowering the NJC to play active role in the process to relieve Head of Courts of their duties in the event of gross professional misconduct or corruption, would strengthen the ethical tenets of the Judiciary as the third Arm of Government. The Bill was referred to the Ad hoc Committee on Constitution review for further legislative action.

In another development, the House deliberated on the general principles of a Bill seeking for the establishment of a National Centre for the Research, Management and Control of Autism, Down Syndrome and other related matters, standing in the name of Hon. Jerry Alagboso. He stated that the unfortunate children born with Autistic condition deserve empathy and help. Adding that nobody prays for such condition and government must as a matter of responsibility take steps to manage these category of people in the society as well as control its prevalence. The Bill was refereed to the Committee on Health Institutions for further legislative inputs. In a related situation, the House debated the general principles of a Bill which propose to establish free medical advice and treatment of breast cancer for indigent patients. 
Leading the debate on the Bill, the sponsor, Hon. Sergius Ogun made a case that, creating a specialized free medical advice and treatment of breast cancer for indigent patients would go a long way in addressing the menace of the killer disease in Nigeria.

Members spoke in favor of the Bill given the dangerous nature of breast cancer. Hon. Nnenna Ukeje exposed the psychological implications of diagnosed and confirmed cancer patients. She noted that nobody in that situation functions well within the realm of reality. She called for more commitment in the effort to treat, manage and control the spread of cancer including provide appropriate succor to cancer patients.


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