Kaduna State ‘Witness Protection Bill’ passes 2nd reading
By; Samson Yaki, Kaduna.
The Bill seeking to protect the identity, ensure the safety of people wishing to divulge information to government and security agencies in Kaduna State (Kaduna State Witness Protection Bill, 2015) has passed Second Reading in the State House of Assembly.
The Bill which emanates from the executive arm, seeks to address the fears of the people from the activities of men of the underworld in case any information works against their interests.
Deliberating on the Bill, Honourable Kasimu Iliya representing Zaria City constituency said, many people may have important information useful to the state but may decide to conceal such information because of the potential risk involved.
He however called on the committee in charge of the Bill to interpret the various aspects of risks involved for proper understanding by the general public.
Most of the members that contributed to the deliberations, expressed the need for the timeliness of the Bill and called for protection of both the witness and the society to avoid incidents of blackmail and character assassinations.
Similarly, the Kaduna State Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse Bill, 2015, also scaled through Second Reading in the House.
In his submission, Honourable Isaac representing Chawai/Kaura constituency and the Chairman Committee on Health, said it is a general knowledge how the society is battling with cases of substance abuse leading to all manner of vices among the youth today.
He lamented that even the security agencies are found of breaking the laws they are meant to enforce and called on them to wake up from their slumber.
Honourable Bityong Yakubu Nkom, Bello Sani Gimi and Nuhu Goro Shadaliya, while blaming politicians of taking undue advantage of the situation to feed the youth with toxic substances to reap from their violent acts during electioneering campaigns, believed that the Bill will provide an opportunity for their protection, prevention and rehabilitation which will open new vistas in their lives.
