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By Oboh Linus, Lafia
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations under auspices of the Nasarawa State Network on Environment and Climate Justice (NASNECJ), has urged the State House of Assembly to speedily pass the Climate Change bill in the interest of the citizens of the state.
Mr Emmanuel Envoh-Okolo, Coordinator of the group made the call on following an advocacy walk to the Assembly Complex in Lafia.
Envoh-Okolo, said the group, comprised of various organisations, including non-governmental organisations, youth groups, women’s groups, farmers, traders, persons with disabilities, and the media.
According to him, they were at the Assembly to push for the speedy passage of the Climate Change bill that was before the State House Assembly.
Envoh-Okolo explained that the collective effort was aimed at ensuring the bill was pass into law, prioritising the most vulnerable members of the society.
He noted that the bill was significant, particularly for women, young girls, and persons with disabilities, who are disproportionately affected by climate change.
“We are lending our voices to ensure that the bill becomes more inclusive and is passed into law that will benefit the vulnerable persons that are most impacted by climate change in Nasarawa state.
“All that we want is climate justice. All that we want is the bill to be speedily passed into law. All that we want is more proactive actions to ensure that climate justice becomes a priority for all,” Okolo emphasized.
“By passing this bill, Nasarawa State can take a significant step towards climate justice and proactive action,” he said.
Responding, the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Danladi Jatau, represented by Hon Mohammed Omadefu, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, expressed his support for the bill’s swift passage.
“It’s a welcome development. It’s equally a challenge to the Assembly to speedily pass it. But I want to assure the world that the Assembly is working hard to ensure that laws that are beneficial to our society are being passed” he said.
The Speaker also noted that the bill addresses critical issues, including environmental degradation caused by human activities and the rights of persons with disabilities.
He said that by passing this legislation, the State would foster actions to mitigate the effects of climate change and provide comfort to those affected by disasters.
Jatau commended the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) and Oxfam in Nigeria for providing technical support for the bill and called for more collaboration.
The Climate Change bill in the State Assembly, which has gone through a public hearing, is being supported by GIFSEP and Oxfam in Nigeria as part of its implementation of the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) project in the state.
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