By Christiana Ekpa
Idealab Agency, a body established by the Federal government to address the challenges of small holder farmers and micro small and medium enterprises in accessing intervention funds in Nigeria in the country has called for a speedy passage of a bill to establish the National Council for Public Assistance to widows, dependent children abe Orphans in the country.
Addressing a news conference at the National Assembly on Monday, Director General of the agency, Tyongi Emmanuel Aondoakaa said the establishment of the agency will help address issues of unemployment and other vices that led to the recent end bad governance protest across the country.
He comended the Speaker of the House of Representatives for sponsoring the bill and for his public engagement with stakeholders while drumming support for the bill.
He also commended the Speaker for bringing back the bill which was rejected in the 9th Assembly, adding the provisions of the bill aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.
He said the Speaker is optimistic that the 10th Assembly will consider the bill for speedy passage and its onward transmission to the President for his assent because of its strategic importance in the current administration and aspiration the President to lift 50 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2027.
He said “It is important to state here that, if this piece of legislation is revisited, repositioned as proposed and worked upon to align with the aspirations of the president as stated above, it will go ahead and address the yearnings of the demonstrators and street protesters of the #EndBadGovernance, to solve the problems of hunger, illiteracy, suffering of the ordinary masses of Nigeria and other social vices in the country.
“We are optimistic it will reduce tension in the land and give the legislators and the Federal Government of Nigeria a high public approval rating and prospect of winning future elections for the politicians in power now”.
