The House of Representatives has directed all its standing committees to submit reports of various ministries, departments and agencies on the 2022 budget proposal today.

The notice was issued by the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Hon Muktar Betara, during the plenary.

Also at plenary, the House passed through First Reading a bill which seeks to establish Nigerian Correctional Service Trust Fund, 2021 sponsored by Hon Anayo Edwin, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai and 40 others.

The bill is to be put in gazette for Second Reading by the House Committee on Rules and Business.

In the same vein, the House tasked authorities of Nigeria Police on the need to end criminal activities of syndicates involved in kidnapping and other forms of militancy around the waterways in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The lawmaker who called for the House intervention expressed concern over the increased criminal activities by syndicates who specialize in kidnapping and other forms of militancy around the waterways in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.

“The House also notes that those criminals have forced law-abiding residents of those coastal and riverine communities to flee their homes for fear of being abducted or killed.

“The House is informed that Hon Ubi Itam Ettah, a former Chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area, was kidnapped in Ugep on August 9, 2021, where the adductors escaped with him through the Ediba waterway-which runs from Cameroon through Etung – Ikom- Obubra – Yakurr – Abi – Biase – Akamkpa and Odukpani waterways to the Atlantic Ocean.

“The House is worried that the incessant abductions and other forms of criminality typify the height of insecurity that has forced prominent indigenes to seek refuge in neighbouring states of Abia, Benue, Ebonyi and Enugu.

“The House is alarmed that the rate of crime in the area has assumed a disturbing dimension with the wanton raid on business outfits and cold-blooded murder of prominent industrialists and economic actors as well as Policemen and other Security Operatives.

“The House observes that the activities of the criminals have brought untold hardship to the people of the affected communities in Cross River State especially in Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency,” he said.

To this end, the House mandated its Committee on Police Affairs to ensure compliance.

Also at the plenary, the House passed through A Bill for an Act to abolish and prohibit dichotomy and discrimination between First Degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) in the same profession/field for the purpose of employment and for related matters.

(Nigerian Tribune)

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