ADHA HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON BILLS TO ESTABLISH TRANSPORT BOARD, OTHER

Adamawa State House of Assembly Committees on Transport, Rural Infrastructure and Community Development as well as that of Finance, Budget and Appropriation on Thursday, conducted public hearing on bills to establish transport board as well as harmonise allowances of LGs Finance Officers. News Platform 

One of the bills is tagged "A bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Adamawa State Transport Board and to provide for the Management, Operation of Urban, Intra-state, Inter-state and International Transport Service"

Another bill is "a bill for a law to harmonise the allowances of the Local Government Finance Officers with their state counterparts and matters incidental thereto".

The bills, which successfully scaled 1st and 2nd readings, were sponsored by the Deputy Majority Leader and Member representing Maiha constituency, Hon. Ahmed Jingi Belel.

The 2 committees conducted separate stakeholders engagement and public hearing on the affected bills as mandated by the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley, during plenary sessions.

The committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Community Development is headed by Hon. Ahmed Jingi Belel of Maiha, while the member representing Madagali constituency, Hon. Haruna Jilantikiri, is chairing the committee on Finance, Budget and Appropriation respectively.

Cross section of stakeholders including Ministry of Transport, NURTW, Adamawa Sunshine, FRSC, VIO, Adamawa State Transport Forum among others graced the hearing organised by the Committee on Infrastructure, while the leadership of ICAN, Accountant General's Office, State Audit attended that of Committee on Finance.

The stakeholders submitted their inputs on the merits and demerits of the proposed bills in order to form part of the new legislations to be enacted by the assembly.

Speaking while declaring his committee's public hearing open, the Member representing Maiha constituency, Hon. Ahmed Jingi Belel, said that the assembly had detailed the committee to stage public hearing so as to collate inputs from the stakeholders.

Hon. Ahmed, told the stakeholders that the event was organised to enable them brainstorm on the bill which had gone through 2nd reading, urging them to come up with relevant inputs to convince the assembly.

According to him, if the board is established will go along way in addressing so many issues in order to have smooth transport sector in the state.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport, Mrs Deborah Wune, applauded the committee for its decision to organise public hearing to get inputs from stakeholders in order to make the legislation all encompassing.

Mrs. Deborah Wune, said that the ministry did not want to take the opportunity for granted; hence, its decision to actively participate in the event.

In his closing remarks, the Member representing Mayo Belwa constituency, Hon. Musa Mahmud Kallamu, thanked the stakeholders for presenting their inputs and assured them that the committee will make use of their submissions.

Likewise, speaking while declaring his committee's public hearing open, Hon. Haruna Jilantikiri (Madagali) who was represented by Hon. Ahmed Jingi Belel(Maiha) said that the public hearing became necessary in view of the importance of the bill.

He said that the committee had been directed to get necessary ingredients from relevant stakeholders for the smooth passage of the bill and appreciated them for availing themselves for the event.

Responding, the representative of ICAN Jimeta District, Iliya Bathemawus, stated that the bill would not have come at better time than now considering the hardship faced by those targeted to benefit.

In their contributions while adopting their submissions, the members of ICAN, Japhet Wakili from Modibbo Adama University, Yola and Odesola Micheal, stressed the need to widen the scope of the bill to satisfy the financial benefit of those targeted.

They advised the committee to look of the sources of finances, be mindful of the cost implication as to whether the LGCs can afford to pay the allowances considering the economic hardship before enacting the bill.

The financial experts futher advised the committee to look inward because according to them, what triggers the bill will trigger others, saying that health workers, artisans and other LGCs personnel from other departments are going to come up with their proposed bills for consideration.

In his vote thanks, the member representing Fufore/Gurin, Hon. Barr. Umar Bobbo Ismail, tasked the LGC financial officers to be up and doing in order to boost revenue profile in their respective LGCs.

Hon. Barr. Ismail, observed with concern the leakages in revenue at the LGCs and charged the financial officers to perform their duties effectively in the interest of the LGCs and the state in general.