Kogi House of Assembly has passed into law, a Bill for a Law to provide for the Establishment of Youth Development Commission, Implementation of Sustainable Youth Policy and other matters connected therewith, 2018.
The Bill is among the five passed into law after their third and final reading, following clause-clause considerations by the Committee of the Whole at plenary in Lokoja.
The House also passed a Bill for a Law to make provisions for the Establishment of Celuke College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ojiapata, 2018.
It did same for A Bill for a Law to Establish “Kogi State Primary Care Development Agency and other matters connected therewith, 2018.
Others are, a Bill for a Law to Establish Kogi State Sports Trust Fund and other matters connected therewith, 2018; a Bill for a Law to Repeal and Renact the Law Establishing Kogi State University, Anyigba, 2018.
Mohammed Lawi Ahmed (APC-Okene I), Chairman, Committee on Youth and Sports, Judiciary, Justice, Legal Matters and Protocol, presented the report on the Youth Commission Development Bill and led the debate.
Lawi-Ahmed said the bill, when passed into law by the governor, would provide the legal framework for the establishment of Youth Development Commission and provides for implementation of policies for youth empowerments.
Speaking with NAN, Ahmed Mohammed (APC-Ankpa I), Deputy Majority Leader of the House and the sponsor of the private member bill, said the bill would provide sustainable policy guide for youth activities in the state.
Mohammed described the bill as necessary tool for youth development, adding that the New Direction administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello was on course in the direction of youth inclusion and involvement in governance.
He said that the bill had its first reading on March 6, and the second reading on April 18, and subsequently had a public hearing and inputs of relevant stakeholders articulated and considered.
Mr Okwutepa Oseni, Executive Director, Voice of Youths Initiative, stressed the need for need for sustainable policy for youth development in the state.
Oseni is also the Coordinator, Kogi Youth Advocacy Cluster on the Youth Development Commission Bill.
According to him, empowered by the law, the youth commission, as a legally established independent and recognised institution, would help to create jobs and increase economic development opportunities for youths in the state.
Oseni expressed to ActionAid Nigeria and Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID) for their support and commitment toward ensuring the passage of the bill.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bills now await assent of the governor to make them laws.
(NAN)
