Nasarawa Assembly Tackles Education Challenges with New Trust Fund Bill, Water Supply Law Advances

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting legislative measures that promise substantial improvements in the education sector. During today's House proceedings, Speaker Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau received and commended the report on the Nasarawa State Education Trust Fund Bill, underscoring the House’s dedication to fostering educational excellence.

The Speaker praised the House Committee on Education for their meticulous work on the bill, which aims to establish the Nasarawa State Education Trust Fund. This fund is envisioned to bolster educational standards through improved infrastructure, vocational training, scholarships, and other critical interventions. Speaker Jatau announced that deliberations on the bill would take place on September 10, 2024.

Rt. Hon. Abel Yakubu Bala, Chairman of the Education Committee, highlighted the bill's provisions, including the appointment of a retired educationist as Chairman of the Trust Fund Board and a civil servant at the Director level as Secretary. He also acknowledged Governor Abdullahi Sule's proactive role in initiating the bill.

Significant recommendations from the report include directing funds from confiscated assets linked to criminal activities into the trust fund and imposing penalties for embezzlement of trust fund resources. Additionally, the bill proposes adjusting the funding structure: increasing the contribution from companies’ contract sums and reducing salaries of political office holders to support the fund. The revised allocations suggest that tertiary institutions will receive 50% of the funds, secondary schools 30%, and basic education 20%. The trust fund will also allocate 70% of funds to capital projects and 30% to training.

In a related development, the Assembly has moved forward with a new legislative initiative concerning water supply and sanitation. A bill to amend the Nasarawa State Water Supply and Sanitation Law of 2023 passed its first reading today. Speaker Jatau has scheduled the second reading of this bill for September 11, 2024. The motion for the first reading was proposed by Hon. Suleiman Yakubu Azara and seconded by Hon. Luka Iliya Zhekaba, receiving unanimous support from the House.

These legislative actions reflect the Assembly's ongoing efforts to address pressing state issues through comprehensive policy solutions.