A bill for an Act to ensure the maintenance of public infrastructure scaled through its second reading at the House of Representatives on Wednesday in Abuja.

The bill seeks to provide a law that would hold public officers accountable for decay of public facilities and to pave way for proper maintenance culture of the nation’s public amenities.

Leading the debate on the merits of the bill, Rep. Sadiq Mohammed (PDP-Kogi), said the enactment of the bill would facilitate the protection of public properties.

He said that the proposed law would ensure that public officers were held responsible for any deterioration in public facilities.

‘’The bill is to make sure that somebody is held liable for any decay in public infrastructure,’’ Mohammed stated.

Rep. Samson Osagie (ACN-Edo), in his contribution, said that the bill represented the genuine feelings of members of Parliament towards maintenance of public utilities.

He, however, noted that the issue was beyond the passage of the bill, adding that ‘’it is about the unwillingness of the agencies to do their jobs and implement budgets when they ought to do so.’’

The legislator argued that the bill would serve as a welcome call to the government when planning for construction of facilities to also plan for maintenance of such infrastructure.

On his own, Rep. Cyril Egwuatu (APGA-Anambra), stressed the imperative of establishing a body to hold people accountable for the upkeep of government buildings.

Rep. Khabeeb Mustahpa (PDP-Jigawa), described the bill as timely, adding: ‘’it is a call for us (Nigerians) to go back to the basics. ’’

The bill passed through the second reading when put to vote by the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.

Meanwhile, a motion on the dearth of quality customer service delivery and protection in Nigeria was unanimously

adopted by the House and referred to the standing Committee on Commerce and Governmental Affairs for further legislative activities.

Leading the debate, Rep. Eseme Eyiboh (PDP-Akwa/Ibom), noted that the poor quality service delivery provided by

public institutions in Nigeria had crept into the private sector.

The House also referred a motion on the need to investigate the influx of sub-standard goods in Nigeria to the House Standing Committees on Commerce and Industry for more legislative action.

Moving the motion, Rep. Ezenwa Onyewuchi (APGA-Imo), expressed concern over the influx of sub-standard goods into the country.

He decried the attitude of Nigerian traders and importers patronising inferior goods in order to maximise their profits.