By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
A law to repeal the Bauchi State Separation of Account Judiciary Law 2019 has been assented to by Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, which is geared towards ensuring that allocations made to each arm of government on the statutory revenue fund of the state are promptly paid into the designated account of each arm based on the appropriation of the state for each year.
This, according to the governor, is to accentuate and make sure that the Judicial arm is completely independent and is autonomous as par the general agreement within the country.
Also assented by the governor is the law to repeal Bauchi State Funds Management Law 2017, and enact a law to provide for the management of funds accruing to the Bauchi State House of Assembly on the consolidated Revenue Funds for accountability, transparency, effective and efficient utilization of the funds.
Assenting to the laws earlier passed by the state legislature, the governor said however that the law to amend Local Government Law, 1976 which is supposed to be the 13th law to be assented, has its assent being deferred, and no reason has been given for the action.
It was also learnt that assenting to the law to amend the Local Government Law, 1976 must go side by side with the enactment of a law to separate the State/ Local Government Joint Account and for the monthly statutory allocation goes to the account of each and every local government account.
Governor Bala Mohammed similarly assented to the law to repeal the Bauchi State College of Agriculture 2013, to establish a division of Agricultural Colleges of the Bauchi State University, 2022, as it was already passed by the State House of Assembly.
The objective of the law is to provide courses of instructions in agriculture and related subjects for diplomas, certificates, among others for the State and Local Government employees, as well as train youths in conventional agricultural practices so that they can give extension services to farmers in the rural areas where there are deficiencies over the last ten years.
The Law to provide for the establishment of Bauchi State Infrastructure Development and Maintenance Agency, 2022, aimed at ensuring efficient and effective management and maintenance of all public buildings and roads corridors, as well as maintenance of roads that are under the state and federal government which agreements are being reached to partner with FERMA as the law is essential for them to be self-sustaining.
The Governor explained that under this law, there is going to be routine maintenance of the roads in the state, as at the moment some companies that repairs the roads, especially on major corridors between Bauchi – Gombe and Bauchi – Jos are just doing it for doing sake, hence with the establishment of the agency, such maintenance would be undertaken within the established standard and best practices.
He also assented to the law establishing the Bauchi State Roads and Traffic Agency Law (BAROTA), 2022, with the agency under this law will be responsible for enforcing state and national traffic laws for the safe use of vehicles on highways in the state.
“We have leverage on what Kano state has done, and Bauchi is going to employ so many youths to ensure that at least there is sanity on the state corridors, as well as make sure it provide some security in cities and towns across the state”, the governor said.
Governor Bala called on all the agencies concerned to make sure that the laws are implemented to the latte, as he spoke of the needs for officials of the relevant agencies to acquaint themselves with the details of the laws for efficient and effective implementation.
