FEBRUARY 23, 2012 BY OLUWOLE JOSIAH
The Senate on Wednesday, rejected a bill seeking to amend the Act establishing the National Youth Service Corps. The bill seeks to prohibit the posting of corps members to states where there are conflicts.
It also rejected another bill seeking to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria Act to ban the valueing of goods and services in Nigeria in foreign currencies.
The first bill sponsored by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, also advocated a N50bn insurance package for corps members.
Presenting the lead debate on Wednesday, Adetunmbi said it would increase the monetary allowances paid to the corps members in view of the declining purchasing power of the naira since the last time their remuneration was reviewed.
The bill provided for the evacuation of corps members in conflict areas, making it the sole responsibility of the state governments.
He said, “The first amendment proposes that section 1 of the Principal Act be amended by inserting some provisions which prohibit the posting of corps members to states where conflict exists.”
Senators, however, opposed the bill on the grounds that the amendments sought could be effected by administrative means.
It was argued that since the changes could be brought about through administrative means, based on the NYSC Act No 84, there was no need to undertake an amendment through legislation.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, noted that the bill was a long way to achieving changes that could easily be achieved administratively.
He said, “In view of section 315 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, the NYSC Act can only be amended through constitutional amendment.”
President of the Senate, David Mark, adopted the views canvassed against the bill, saying that it would be wrong to seek to amend the NYSC Act on the basis of insecurity.
He said, “Whatever insecurity that exists today is temporary and we should not fashion our laws along that line. The insecurity we notice today is temporary and will not last for long.”
According Mark, most of the changes proposed in the NYSC bill are not things that ought to be in a bill but can be effected through administrative processes.
The bill was subsequently withdrawn as opposition to it was sustained.
Also, the Senate also stood down a bill seeking to amend the CBN Act to criminalise the denomination of goods and services offered in Nigeria in foreign currency.
The Senate was of the view that such legislation could endanger the economy.
Ekweremadu said the world had become a global village and such laws would be counter productive.
Other senators spoke in the same vein, arguing that the naira is used in many other countries.
SOURCE: The Punch, 23 February 2012. http://punchontheweb.com/
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