Reps to pass Otukpo Varsity, PIB, Electoral Act Bills soon – Hon. Agbo

The Honourable Member representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency, Rep. Francis Ottah Agbo, has assured that the Bill establishing the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, will be expeditiously concurred and passed by the Green Chamber before it will be sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

Recall that the Nigerian Senate, had on Tuesday passed the Bill, which amongst other things, seeks to establish the Health Sciences University in Otukpo, to help in training Medical Doctors and other professionals in social sciences and other fields.

Speaking yesterday at the National Assembly, Abuja, when a powerful delegation of the Ufia people led by the President of Ufia Development Association (UDA), Chief Vincent Uloko paid a solidarity visit, Dr. Agbo said the tradition in a bi-cameral legislature was that all Bills must gain the concurrence of both the higher and lower chambers before Presidential assent.

Dr. Ottah Agbo who is the Chairman of House Committee on Narcotics Drugs, commended the former Senate President, Senator David Mark for envisioning the University, the 8th National Assembly for initiating the first back up Bill, former Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Ministry of Education Perm Sec, Mr. Sunday Echono and the Ministry of Education for actualizing the dream of Mark. The lawmaker also commended the Idoma league of Professors/ Apa Education Foundation, led by Prof. Ochapa Onazi, for their tireless intellectual touch that fortified the establishment of the university.

Dr. Agbo, who also doubles as the Spokesman of the Minority Caucus of the Green Chamber, assured that the House of Representatives will also, in two weeks, pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Electoral Act Bill.

“We are bent on making history in the 9th Assembly, by passing the PIB and Electoral Act Bill in record time because we want to strengthen the Electoral System to deliver credible elections in Nigeria as well as block loopholes and strengthen the economy with the passage of the PIB.

“In as much as we are in a race against time, we want error- free Bills and that is why we are putting finishing touches on the Bills, clause by clause, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph and page by page”, Agbo said.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Chief Uloko, said the people of Ufia, whom the lawmaker is currently representing at the Green Chamber, were in National Assembly in solidarity with him for his laudable efforts at curtailing insecurity and attending to other social needs of the people.

Uloko, while pledging the unflinching support of the Ufia people, also reiterated the call for the creation of Ufia Local Government, out of the exiting Ado local government area of Benue state.