Legislature Urged to Consult Experts Before Making Laws

Edo State Governo, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has hailed the magnanimity of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewaure II, for placing some returnees from Libya on salary, noting that the gesture was a landmark effort in rehabilitating the returnees.

The governor, in a statement, said the gesture shows Oba Ewuare II’s commitment to seeing that the youths, who have returned home from treacherous sojourn overseas, are catered for and protected from the vagaries of idleness.

According to the governor, “I commend the Oba’s support for the returnees. This has shown that the Oba is not just committed to ensuring that our youths break loose from the grip of human trafficking, but that those who survived the hellish experience in Libya are catered for and do not have any reasons whatsoever to go back to their vomit.”

Noting that the Oba Ewaure II’s gesture came at a time the returnees need to be assured that they were not left in the lurch, Obaseki said: “This gesture came at the right time and will further complement the state government’s efforts to rehabilitate the returnees and reintegrate them into society. We are delighted and appreciate the Oba’s support since the onset of the recent campaign to stem the tide of illegal migration and human trafficking.”

The governor said much as the Oba of Benin is to be commended for the gesture, it was imperative to use the opportunity to call on philanthropists, wealthy Edo businessmen and others to support the campaign by also providing such palliative measure in rehabilitating the returnees.

“We, at this juncture, want to call on our illustrious sons and daughters to join in this campaign and help our brothers and sisters as they settle back into society. The Oba’s gesture is a clarion call to all. Much as the state government is committing resources to make this happen, we are certain that this cause could do with more hands. This will help build structures and institutions to stem the tide of the menace and restore our ethos and pride as a people,” Obaseki said. James Sowole The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) has asked the National Assembly to always engage and consult its members in order to render expert services on public sponsored bills or amendment that border on specialised area.

The association said “this is important to save time, resources and healthy relations amongst the professions.”

The APBN National President, Dr. Omede Idris, stated this at a press conference at the end of a 2-day Presidential Retreat in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

At the event with the theme: “Repositioning the APBN: Strategies for Collaboration of Professional Bodies,” the association lauded the Federal Government for the recent constitution of boards, councils and commissions.

The president added that professionalism and collaboration are key and indeed fundamental to success in business, governance, convergence of knowledge and broad-based professional development built on partnership, competence and skills in various areas.

Omede, who however lamented non-constitution of professional regulatory bodies particularly in health sector, called on President Buhari to reconstitute councils and Boards of all professional bodies especially in the health sector including Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, (MDCN), Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, (PCN) and Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria, (MLCN) amongst others.

He urged government at various levels to avail professionals across all disciplines the opportunity for policy direction and implementation, adding that the APBN membership of 30 professional associations, presently cuts across virtually all sectors of the economy such as finance, health, infrastructure, administration, management, science, technology and law.

”Nigeria economic diversification should focus on domestic production, export and mineral resources, Agriculture and other sources of revenue generation.

“The government attention and achievement in agriculture should be sustained, while there should be a renewed, progressive and proactive interest by the Federal Government in the Ajaokuta Steel Company, in Kogi State”, Omede said.