Nasarawa Assembly gives 10 years moratorium to judges without degree in law.

…..As house sets to pass 3 bills into law next week.

Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has recommended that a 10 years window period be granted to judges of Area courts without degree in Law to obtain the qualification for effective Judicial service delivery in the state.

Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi , the Speaker of the House stated this during deliberation on report of the House Standing Committee of Judiciary, Ethics and Privileges on a Bill For a Law to Amend the Nasarawa State Area Courts Law 2022 and For Other Matters Related Therewith during the House proceeding in Lafia today.

The Speaker said that the proposed amendment of the bill became necessary as a result of implementing the principal law passed in 2022.

“Going by the principal law, if it is to be implemented it will lay off some staff of the Judiciary, for fear of this, hence the need to amend the principal law.

” The principal law provides that for one to be a judge of the Upper Area Court one must be a legal practitioner with at least 4 years post call.

” And for one to be a judge of an Area Court you must be a legal practitioner with at least 3 years post call.

” The Committee is of strong recommendation that a window period of 10 years to be granted to the affected staff to enroll into a degree programme of Law in order to be called to bar for them to fit in, ” he said.

The Speaker, then slated Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 for the third reading of the bill.

The House also slated Tuesday May 9th, 2023 for the third reading of a Bill For a Law to Establish the Nasarawa State Information Technology Development Agency and Other Related Matter.

The House slated Wednesday, May 10th, 2023 for the third reading of a Bill for a Law to Establish the Nasarawa State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Change Agency ( NASEWCCA) and Other Matters Connected Therewith.

The Speaker slated the dates during the house deliberation on the bills today in Lafia.

In a related development, three bills scaled second reading at the floor of the House, they are.

A Bill For a Law to Amend the Nasarawa State College of Nursing and Midwifery Law, 2021 and other Matters Connected Therewith scaled second reading

The Speaker committed the bill to the House Committee on Health to work on it and report back to the House in a week time

Also, A Bill For a Law to Amend the Number of Judges of the Superior Courts of Record Law 2001 and for Related Matters scaled Second reading.

The Speaker committed the bill to the House Committee on Judiciary to work on it and report back to the House in a week time.

A Bill For a Law to Repeal and Re-Enact the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Service Commission Law and Other Related Matters scaled second reading.

The Speaker also set up 7 Man Ad-hoc Committee to work on the bill and report back to the House in 10 days. The Ad-hoc committee members are Hon Umar Tanko Tunga- Chairman, Hon Mohammed Ibrahim Muluku Agah as member, Hon Mohammed Adamu Omadefu- member, Hon Mohammed Ibrahim Alkali- member, Hon Danladi Jatau- Member, Hon Dogara Aliyu- Member, Hon Abel Bala, the Minority Leader as member and Mr Ibrahim Musa, the Deputy Clerk of the House as Secretary of the Committee

Hon Umar Tanko Tunga, the Majority Leader of the House moved motions for the bills to scale second reading respectively.

Hon Abel Bala seconded the motions respectively.

Also, The House received the report of the Joint Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development/ Public Account on a Bill for a Law to Establish the Nasarawa State Social Investment Agency Charged With the Responsibility of Tackling Poverty, Ensuring Equitable Distribution of Resources and Economic Growth in the State and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.

Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the Speaker slated Tuesday 9th May, 2023 for the deliberation of the report after Hon Samuel Tsebe Co-chairman of the committee presented the committee’s report during the House proceedings today in Lafia.

Members made various contributions in their different ways for the bills as they are considered in stages.