Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Y. Suleiman presides over plenary
By Akanji Olowolodu, Bauchi
Bauchi State House of Assembly is set to pass into law a Bill for a Law to establish Bauchi State Rural Access Roads Authority (RARA) with the aim of opening up the rural areas through construction of feeder roads.
Consequently, the House, during its plenary on Wednesday, referred the Bill to the House Committee on House on Rural Development for further legislative actions.
The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu representing Azare/Madangala Constituency had requested that the House should allow the Bill for a Law to establish Bauchi State Rural Access Roads Authority (RARA) and for connected purposes to undergo first reading and was seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo Chiroma Constituency.
Upon approval by the Members, the Speaker, Abubakar Sulaiman who presided over plenary, directed the Clerk of the House, Umar Yusuf Gital Esq to carryout the first reading after which the Speaker asked the Majority Leader to the lead on the debate of the Bill.
The Majority Leader said that the Bauchi State Rural Access Roads Authority will be responsible for overall management, design, development, rehabilitation, reconstruction and maintenance of Class C and Class D roads on behalf of Local Government Areas of Bauchi State.
According to him, “It is a known fact that, majority of rural roads in Bauchi State were constructed between the 80s and 90s, with a larger portion of them currently deteriorated because of poor maintenance.”
He explained that, “As such, Bauchi State Rural Access Roads Authority when established, shall have the same power vested in the Local Government Areas of Bauchi State to manage the Class C and Class D road networks including but not limited to; measure assess the weights, dimensions and capacities of vehicles using any Class C and Class D roads.”
The Majority Leader added that,”and provide measures to ensure compliance with provisions of any law relating to axle load control, monitor and evaluate the use of rural roads and to ensure adherence by drivers to the rules and guidelines on axle load control prescribed by law and ensure that the quality of road works is in accordance with standards and specifications defined by the Low Volume Roads Manual, the Low Volume Roads Technical Specifications and the Low Volume Roads Maintenance Manual as published by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.” He explained.”
Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu further stated that the Bill is significant because it seeks to promote the sustainable development and operation of the rural sector, noting that many requests for roads rehabilitation or construction within various Constituencies as result of flood disaster were presented before the House under matters of urgent public importance on several occasions and the requests became significant because the affected roads hampered many towns and villages from accessing markets, education, healthcare facilities, farmlands and various other social services.
The House Leader therefore prayed that the House will accord the Bill speedy passage in the interest of the people of Bauchi State.
In his contribution, Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo representing Chiroma Constituency said that the matter is a policy issue by the state government and the Bill is straightforward therefore it required no much deliberations.
He then moved that the prayer of the Majority Leader should be accepted and the Members adopted the prayers of the debate.
Equally, the Majority Leader requested that the House should allow the Bill for a Law to establish Bauchi State Rural Access Roads Authority (RARA) should undergo second reading and was seconded by the Minority Leader, Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo representing Chiroma Constituency.
Upon approval by the Members, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Umar Yusuf Gital Esq to carryout the second reading.
The Bill was then referred to the House Committee on Rural Development for further legislative actions, the Committee was given two weeks to report back to plenary.
Also during the plenary, Majority Leader of the House Hon. Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu representing Azare/Madangala Constituency moved a motion that a Bill for a law to establish Bauchi State Roads Fund should be allowed to undergo first reading and was seconded by the Minority Leader Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo.
After the Members approved, the Speaker directed the Deputy Clerk of the House, Lamara Abdu Chinade to carryout the first reading, the Speaker thereafter asked the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu to lead a debate on the Bill.
The Majority Leader explained that the objectives of the Bill are; to establish the State Road Fund which shall be repository for revenues accruing from road user related charges and other sources of revenue for financing the management, design, development, rehabilitation, maintenance and other activities related to the provision of Class B, Class C and Class D roads in the State, establish the Bauchi State Roads Fund Board and Administration which shall be responsible for the management of the State Roads Fund and promote the sustainable development and operation of Class B, Class C and Class D roads in the State.
He added that roads make a crucial contribution to economic development and growth, bring important social benefits.
According to him, “The only way to ensure rapid development of our dear State is to raise our Internally Generated Revenue because it is low. We don’t have to rely on Federal Allocation because it is no longer enough due to dwindling economy.”
He also said that, “The Bauchi State Roads Fund and the Bauchi State Roads Fund Board and Administration Bill would go a long way in increasing the revenue generation of the State.”
“This Bill is timely and if it’s passed into law, will facilitate the management of road user charging system, secure and allocate sufficient funding for safe and efficient road sector in Bauchi State.” The Leader submitted.
In his contribution, Minority Leader of the House, Hon Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo said that the Bill should be accepted because it goes hand in hand with the Rural Access Roads Authority Bill and the Members unanimously approved the motion.
Similarly, Majority Leader of the House Hon. Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu, representing Azare/Madangala Constituency moved a motion that a Bill for a law to establish Bauchi State Roads Fund should be allowed to undergo second reading and was seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo.
