Enugu Assembly Introduces First Private Bill

The Enugu State House
of Assembly has received its first private member bill since the inception of the fifth assembly three years ago.
The bill, introduced by the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Chime Oji (PDP-Enugu North), seeks to establish the Enugu State Investment Promotion Commission.
Presenting the bill which is the first bill this year on Tuesday, Oji said it would encourage and promote investment opportunities in the state.
He said the bill would encourage the Commission to effectively coordinate and monitor all investment opportunities in the state.
“If this bill is considered and passed, the Commission will maintain liaison between investors and government ministries, agencies, departments, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), and other stakeholders.
“It will provide and disseminate up to date information on incentives available to investors and assist existing and prosperous investors by providing support services.
“It will among other things advise the government on policy matters including fiscal measures designed to promote the industrialisation and the general economy of the state,’’ he said.
Oji called on civil society organisations to support the bill which would generate employment and boost the revenue of the state.
He assured the members that the bill would not only provide the enabling environment for investments to thrive but would provide other safety nets that would guarantee their sustenance.
In another development, the Assembly’s Joint Committee on Civil Service/Pension Matters and Judiciary presented its report on the bill seeking to provide a contributory pension scheme for employees in the public service of the state.
Presenting the bill, the Chairman of the joint committee, Chief Joseph Ugwumba (PDP- Enugu East, Rural) said it had critically looked into the bill referred to it on November 17, 2011.
The Leader of the assembly, Mr Sunday Ude-Okoye (PDP-Awgu North), however, moved a motion for its acceptance but noted that the debate would be deferred to a later date to be determined by the Assembly’s Committee on Rules and Business.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Mr Eugene Odo, thanked the committee for a job well done and urged the lawmakers to go through the report to enable them to make robust inputs during the consideration of the report.