TQM report,
The State House of Assembly has committed to accord topmost priority to the needs of persons with disabilities in all its legislative processes to be in conformity with international best legislative procedures.
This assurance was given yesterday Tuesday by the state acting speaker of Zamfara state House of Assembly, Rt Hon Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya when he declared open a one public hearing on bill seeking prohibition of all sorts of discrimination against persons with disabilities organized by the House standing committee on women children and social welfare.
In a press release signed by Mustapha jafaru Kaura, (D/G Press Affairs and Public Relations)Zamfara State House of Assembly, the event which took place at the Universal Basic Education teacher and training development centre along Eastern bye pass Road Gusau was a private member bill fully sponsored by Hon Salihu Usman Zurmi representing Zurmi East who is also a person with disability.
Speaker Magarya said by considering people with disabilities in legislative engagement, his Assembly is not only trying to obtain international best practices but also to be in conformity with Islamic injunctions that enjoyed all Muslims to show love and compassion to people with different forms of disabilities .
He then assured the gathering that immediately after the completion of all the legislative requirements which include conducting a public hearing such as this, the 6th Assembly under his leadership will leave no stone unturned in given the bill a third reading and subsequently passed it into law and the state governor will surely put his assent.
The state chief lawmaker while commending the foresight of the sponsor of the bill Hon Salihu Usman Zurmi, also saluted the courage of the House standing committee on women children and social Walfare under the chairmanship of Hon Kabiru Magaji Kwatarkwashi for taking the bull by the horn up to this stage of conducting a well attended public Hearing on the proposed bill.
The state Acting Governor also said worthy of commendation is this regards is the House strategic partner on this proposed bill Save the children under the leadership of its state Advocy officer mallam Nura Muhammad Dantawasa Bukkuyum for given all the moral and financial support to the House standing Committee on women children and social welfare and call on other international donor agencies in the state to emulate them.
Speaker Magarya who rejoices with the teeming persons with disabilities that attended the occasion said he is very much optimistic that there is ability in every disability assuring them that the Matawallen Maradun’s led administration will always carry them along in every strategic aspect of governance.
Earlier speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Women Children and Social Welfare, Hon Kabiru Magaji Kwatarkwashi said that organizing a public hearing will avail his committee the opportunity to take the bill to the door steps of persons with disabilities and also give them a level playing ground to give their input on the the propose bill.
Hon Kwatarkwashi then assured the relevant stakeholders that their contributions, and observations will definitely come to bear in the entire legislative process of the bill .
He said public hearing forms part of cardinal responsibilities of lawmaking stressing that the Magarya led 6th Assembly attaches high premium on this daunting task and thanked Mr speaker for given them free will to operate.
In his submission the Emir of Anka, Sarkin Zamfara Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad CON advocated for leaders at all strata of governance to learn how to talk with people with disabilities particularly the Deaf so that leaders at different level of governance will understand the immediate needs of such people with the view of assisting them with ease.
Also speaking at the event, a retired permanent secretary in the state civil service Alhaji Usman Ahamad Nahuche who is also a disable person that talked through his interpreter drew the attention of the House that when passing the bill into law consideration should be given to purely disable persons in the formation of their commission in the state, stressing that their struggle for the actualization of their plights dated back decades ago .
Highlight of the occasion were presentations from different clusters of persons with disabilities such as National Association of Persons With Physical Disabilities, its blind counterpart, Persons With Leprosy as well as those of spinal cord injury to mention but just a few.
In his vote of thanks, the clerk to the House, Shehu Saidu Anka thanked all those that attended the public hearing and wished everybody a safe journey mercies to their respective destinations.
The public hearing was attended by the Deputy House leader, Hon. Nasiru Bello lawal Bungudu, sponsor of the bill, Hon. Salihu Usman Zurmi, as well as Hon. Yusuf Alhassan Kanoma representing Maru North.
Others include National commissioner in charge of North West in the National commission for people with disabilities, Hajiya Amina B,M Audu, international and non governmental organizations.
