A bill for a law to establish the Plateau State Citizens Mediation Center and other matters related 2023, has passed third reading on the floor of the 10th House of Assembly and await governor’s assent as Clerk of the Assembly forwards clean copy to the Governor.
The bill which is an executive bill that was presented to the floor of the House by the Majority Leader and member representing Bokkos Constituency, Hon. Ishaku Maren had undergo all legislative procedures including public hearing by an ad-hoc committee why was chaired by the House Deputy Speaker and member representing Jos South Constituency, Fom Gwattson.
Presenting report of the the ad-hoc committee before the House, chairman of the committee noted that the bill was committed to the ad-hoc committee on the 7th of June. 2023 and the committee scrutinized it at the committee stage before public hearing, involving all concerned stakeholders was held on the 3rd July, 2023, where observations and recommendations were made by the stakeholders.
Receiving the committee’s report, the House converted the plenary into a committee of whole and adopted the 5 pages report through a page by page method before Clerk of the House, Mr. Ponven Wuyep gave it a third reading and Speaker of the 10th Assembly, Hon. Moses Sule directed the Clerk to make a clean copy and forward same to governor for assent.
The bill if passed into law and the center establish, will serve as an alternative dispute resolutions center where farm disputes, royalty disputes, landlord tenants and other domestic or Internal disputes in the state can be addressed.
Also during the plenary, the House majority leader, Hon. Ishaku Maren moved a motion under matter of urgent public importance over what he tagged fraudulent activities of Jos Electricity Distribution Company. He alleged that most cases of vandalization of Transformers are done by the staff or in collaboration with staff of the organization, as according to him often time there will be blackout before the criminal would perpetrate their act.
Other members of the House also spoke on the motion, saying most of their constituents are victims of the company’s poor services. They mentioned communities where some are in total blackout for months or some are having epileptic power supply yet those using estimated bills are being overcharged monthly.
Responding, Speaker of the House lamented over the situation, noting that even the Assembly’s transformer was vandalized and they are currently running on a Generator. The House resolved to invite management of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company for a dialogue to address the situation.