Assembly Commends Canadian Government for Support in Mitigating Effects of Covid-19 Human Rights Empowerment

By Abdullahi Alhassan.

Bauchi State House of Assembly has commended the Canadian Government for supporting Bauchi State in mitigating the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, women empowerment and promoting human rights.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman made the commendation when he received in audience Global Affairs Canada led by Head of Mission Mr Kevin Tokar in his office on Monday.

The Speaker explained that the State Assembly being the representatives of the people from the grassroot appreciates the assistance received from Canada and the current intervention of the Canadian Government in some ministries, departments and agencies of Bauchi State.

The Speaker who attributed the resistance of Bauchi State to all security threats to the proactive measures taken by the Government to ensure security of lives and property, told the Canadian Mission that the Assembly and the Executive work hand in hand for the development of the State.

According to him, the Assembly has contributed immensely in curtailing the spread of coronavirus and mitigating its effects on the people of the State through legislations, appropriations and financial donations to the State Steering Committee of Covid-19 among many other measures.

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On the passage of VAPP law and issues of human rights in the State, the Speaker said that the Assembly is one of the few States that passed the law and always attach importance and promptly act on reported issues of human rights abuse across the State.

On the Child Right Act which is not domesticated in the State, Speaker Abubakar Y Suleiman said that the delay in passage of the Bill for the law is because it clashes with culture and religion of the people of the State, thus the reason the Assembly is trying to remodel the Bill so that it will be in tandem with the culture and religion of the people.

The Speaker also told the Canadian Mission that the Assembly is in support of women participation in politics, adding that even though there is no female lawmaker in the State, all the lawmakers work tirelessly to ensure the wellbeing of women through empowerments and legislations.

Earlier Speaking the Head of Mission Global Affairs of Canada Mr Kevin Tokar said that they are in Bauchi State to meet with the Executive Governor of State His Excellency Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad and the ministries, departments and agencies related to their intervention as well as projects implementation partners, thus the reason of their visit to the Assembly being a major stakeholder.

He appreciates the infrastructural development the State is witnessing as well the resistance of Bauchi State to all security threats in the Country despite the fact that it’s part of the Northeast which is being ravaged by insecurity.

According to him, Nigeria is the largest beneficiary of Canadian Government international assistance while Bauchi State is the largest recipient of Canadian Government assistance in Nigeria in the areas of healthcare, empowerment and other interventions

On Covid-19, Mr Tokar said that the pandemic will continue to affect nation’ls in various ways thus the need for partnership to save lives, adding that Canada has sent thousands of vaccines to Nigeria among other measures.

While commending the Bauchi State House of Assembly for passing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill into law, he explained that human rights is a priority of Canada and he is happy that the Speaker is a champion of human rights and gender equality.

However the Head of Mission inquired about the status of Child Right Act which is yet to be passed by the Assembly and the efforts being made to encourage women participation in politics.

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