TUE, APRIL 28 2020-theG&BJournal- The Federal House of Representative today urged the Federal Government to urgently scale up the nations testing capacity nationwide and called on the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to adopt proactive approaches and technologies in the management of the pandemic. It also asked for investigation into the causes of the rising cases of death in Kano.
These were among urgent items of public importance which members of the House deliberated on after the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila opened plenary session.
The House also resolved to summon the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Minister of Health and the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to appear before it on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, to brief it on its COVID-19 response initiative and its template of intervention in all the states of the Federation.
The Speaker, in his address to open the day’s plenary session noted the tendency for the existing fault lines of the country to become dangerously exacerbated in this time and urged all to maintain unity of purpose and order.
He said; ‘’the government must not be complicit, by acts of omission or commission in any such aggravations, as such will only make it more difficult to maintain the unity of purpose, that is essential to our nation’s survival at this delicate time.’’
The Speaker also called on President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to take advantage of the unique insights of the federal legislators in targeting the distribution of some essential palliatives to the needy.
‘’When the federal government do not reach those that need, we are the first to receive complaints and have to explain to our constituents the reasons why they do not qualify o why they have been left out.’’
Commenting further, the Speaker said; ‘’we intend to bring the unique perspective of our grassroots interactions to ensure the hardest-hit communities receive help and to help codify the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) into a Bill that will be considered by the House at our next adjourned date.’’
He hinted that the House will also at that time seek to pass a second Economic Stimulus Bill to provide necessary relief to individuals and corporate organisations in Nigeria.
‘’We expect that before then, the Nigerian Senate will quickly consider and pass the first Economic Stimulus Bill which has since passed in the House and now awaits concurrence by the Senate.’’
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