Kano State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a Public Health Security Bill.
The bill was passed after extensive deliberations during the plenary, presided over by Speaker, Jibril Ismail Falgore (NNPP-Rogo) in Kano.
After the deliberations, the lawmakers approved the third reading of the bill by the Clerk.
The Assembly also commended development partners for their support toward its passage.
Kano State has become a trailblazer among Nigerian states by passing a bill designed to fortify the state’s capabilities in preventing, detecting, responding to, recovering from, and preparing for epidemic diseases.
Initiated during the 9th Assembly, the bill garnered support from key partners such as the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO Lafiya), and the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL).
These organizations played a pivotal role in advocacy and hosting workshops for stakeholders and legislators, offering in-depth insights into the bill.
The Bill was sponsored by Musa Ali Kachako, a member representing the Takai constituency at the Assembly.
Following the workshops, the bill successfully passed its 1st reading but faced a hiatus due to time constraints and the subsequent closure of the 9th Assembly. As per legislative protocols, an unfinished bill in one assembly necessitates restarting the process in a new assembly.
Upon the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, supportive partners launched advocacies and follow-ups based on previous efforts. The members acknowledging the significant investments in the bill, embraced it.
The bill has progressed through the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd readings, with a comprehensive retreat organized to scrutinize its contents, sections, and technicalities.
The document underwent meticulous review by a standing committee on health, generating a detailed report presented to the floor of the Assembly and subsequently accepted.
(Kano Focus)
