BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly have rejected a clause in a Bill they passed that was to make it mandatory for them to contribute part of their salaries to the State Security Trust Fund.
The Bill for a Law to establish the Security Trust Fund and other connected purposes which was passed by the House followed the submission of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Economic Development and laid by the Chairman of the Committee, Dan’umma Bello representing Giade State Constituency.
The report of the Committee stated that the Security Trust Fund when established will be a direct response to the security challenges in the State and address the challenges confronting security agencies in the areas of logistics, mobility, communication, kits, etc.
It also stated that the Fund is to raise money through voluntary donations thus, it is strictly donor funded and monies raised are for effective functioning of all security agencies operating in Bauchi State.
The Committee recommended that the House shall be receiving quarterly report from the Fund’s Board for transparency and accountability adding that the Board shall be consulting the Federal Government’s security agencies where necessary.
The Committee also recommended that monies under the Fund be invested if condition warrants, adding that it will pave way for more fund and productivity and whistleblower unit should be established within the Board so that they will discharge their responsibilities effectively.
It further recommended that 0.1% of the statutory allocation of the State be budgeted and captured in the forthcoming 2022/2023 proposed Appropriation bill to the Fund annually which is secured instruments.
The Committee also recommended that all political office holders in the state should be charged 0.1 of their salaries and corporate Organizations, financial institutions and contractors should be charged similar amount from their approved net donations.
However, debate ensued among the members on the donation by political appointees leading most of the members to take a position that since 0.1% is to be deducted from the statutory allocation of the State which is the source of their salaries, there was no need of another deduction from their salaries.
After a heated debate, the Speaker subjected the matter to a voice voting in which majority voted in favour of the removal of the section and approved the 0.1 percent from the statutory allocation of the State for the Fund.
The House thereafter adopted all the recommendations of the Committee with amendments.
The House thereafter adjourned to Tuesday August 3, 2021 as moved and seconded by the Majority Leader and Minority Leader.
