The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, says Nigeria has taken decisive measures to meet global demands for sustainable social development and justice.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Deputy Speaker explained that the country’s key legislative achievements in recent years attest to its commitment toward realizing this objective.
Addressing the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Mr. Benjamin Kalu confirmed that another key strategy was the establishment of four regional development commissions to ensure that policy interventions are tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of each region.
“These bodies are dynamic institutions tasked with channeling resources where they are needed most, . By decentralizing our development efforts, we are breaking away from the one-size-fits-all approach and ensuring that every region can chart its own course toward sustainable progress”
He maintained that to further strengthen it’s plans, Nigeria passed the Student Loan Act 2024 to open higher education to the underprivileged; established National Commissions for Mass Literacy, Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, Nomadic Education, Refugees and IDPs, and Persons with Disabilities.
Others includes free healthcare treatment for pregnant women and expanded health coverage via the National Health Insurance Authority, created financial support systems including non-collateral loans for youth and women cooperatives, entrepreneurship grants for NYSC members, and mandatory entrepreneurship education in universities.
The Deputy Speaker, however, noted that the House is currently considering five new gender equity bills to boost women’s representation, has enhanced funding for the Ministry of Women Affairs to support grassroots empowerment, and has passed the Nigeria Startup Act 2022 and the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 to unlock digital opportunities for young entrepreneurs and innovators.
He said the house already passed the new minimum wage bill, and implemented by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government to safeguard the rights of workers and lay the foundation for a more dynamic and productive economy.
Mr Benjamin Kalu, further expressed worry that the Africa continent is burdened by a huge debt profile that strains it public finances, making it difficult to realize the sustainable social development.
He, however, assured that Nigeria’s journey towards social development and justice is guided by a steadfast commitment to human dignity, equity, and sustainable progress.
COV /TSIBIRI
