By PAULINE DALLONG
Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA), has in a matter of urgent public importance, called on the state government to open up agricultural zones and create opportunities for farmers and graduates.
This was contained in a notice of motion, brought before the floor of the House by Hon. Saleh Shehu Yipmong, Deputy Speaker and member representing Wase constituency and seconded by Hon. Henry Longs, member representing Pankshin South constituency.
In his words : “Creating the agricultural zonal centers will definitely open up opportunities for our youth, especially graduates who are facing unemployment to explore their God given potentials in the agricultural sector “.
Hon. Yipmong, who commended Governor Lalong for resuscitating and bringing back Barc farms, said this singular gesture will resurrect agricultural activities in the state and create employment opportunities for the teeming youth.
Speaking in support of the motion, Hon. Naanlong Daniel, member representing Qua’an Pan constituency, said farming has a huge potential because it is the only sector that can accommodate both the literate and illiterate.
According to him, the agric value chain alone, would be enough to employ over seventy percent of the unemployed in the country, even though there was need for modern and mechanized equipment to spur those going into farming.
In their separate submissions, members called on the state government to make it mandatory for a certain percentage of the annual budget to be set aside for boosting agriculture.
They commended the mover of the motion and agreed that the motion was meant to reawaken the government of the day to continue with what it was doing, which was giving priority to agriculture.
PLHA: CSR bill for second reading
By PAULINE DALLONG
The Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA), has passed for second reading, a bill for a law to establish the Plateau State Corporate Social Responsibility Commission, and other matters connected, 2020 jointly sponsored by Hons. Saleh Shehu Yipmong, Yahaya Adamu Mavo and Peter Ibrahim Gyendeng.
The Deputy Speaker and member representing Wase constituency, Hon. Saleh Shehu Yipmong, who moved the motion as an order of the day, said it was expected of every company doing business in the state to carry out certain obligations.
“It is expected of every company and organisation doing business in the state to carry out certain responsibilities, by way of providing assistance and support to its immediate community”.
Speaking, Hon. Philip Peter Dasun, member representing Pankshin North constituency, who seconded the motion disclosed that when passed into law, the bill will augment the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which is most desirable at this point in time.
In his contribution, Hon. Naanlong Daniel, Majority Leader and member representing Qua’an Pan constituency said that most companies operating in the state are not living up to expectation in the area of corporate social responsibility, which was why the law was needed to ensure they played their role in community development.
On his part, Hon. Daniel Nanbol Listick, member representing Langtang North Central constituency insists that there must be an enabling law guiding the operation of MDAs in this regard and that once the bill was passed, it will be a huge investment for the state.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abok Ayuba, reiterated the need for the bill to be passed into law within the shortest time possible, as according to him its importance to the state cannot be overemphasized.
He therefore, mandated the House Committee on Parastatals to study and work on it before it is returned to the floor of the House within two weeks from today.
Also for first reading, was a Bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment of Plateau State Blood Transfusion Safety Committee for the regulation, assessment of blood donors, blood and blood products Banking, administration and ethics of dealing in blood for human -medical use and related matters, 2020.
The bill is being sponsored by Hon. Daniel Nanbol Listick, the Chairman House Committee on Health, Hon. Agah Musa, Hon. Amurudu Usaini, Hon. Timothy Dantong and Rt. Hon. Saleh Shehu Yipmong, Deputy Speaker of the House.
