From Felix Ikem Nsukka
The Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State Legislative Council on Tuesday held a public hearing on bills seeking the prohibition of open defecation and improper disposal of biomedical waste in the area.
The public hearing held at Adada Hall Nsukka was attended by councilors, traditional rulers, presidents of town unions, civil society organisations, traders, landlords, religious leaders, among others
In a remark at the hearing, Hon Jude Omeje the Leader of the Nsukka legislative council said that the aim of the public hearing was to get the inputs of Nsukka residents and reflect it before the bills were passed to bylaws.
Omeje expressed appreciation for the attendance and pledged that councilors would reflect suggestions and contributions before the bills were passed to bylaws.
The leader who co-authored the bill on prohibition of open defecation with a Councilor Mrs. Cordela Odugu, Chief Whip of Nsukka legislative Council said the objective of the bill was to stop indiscriminate defecation in any part of Nsukka LG as well as improve public health.
According to him when the bill is passed into law any person who violates the law would be liable to N10,000.00 fine or one week imprisonment or both.
He said also that the bill when passed into law made it an offence for landlords, shop and plazas owners, markets, public institutions among others not to have toilets and wash hand basins in their buildings.
The leader noted further that the bill when passed and assented by the LG Chairman, that security agencies were empowered to arrest offenders and hand them over to the police within 24 hours for prosecution.
“Any institutions like school, health centre either private or public without toilet and wash hands basin is liable to N50,000.00 fine or two months imprisonment or both.
“Any feaces sighted in any community in Nsukka LG , leaders of such community will be liable to fine of N10,000.00 or one week imprisonment or both.
“Any public building without toilet facilities and hand washing the owner such building will be liable to N50,000.00 fine or one month imprisonment or both,” he said.
On the bill seeking the prohibition of improper disposal of biomedical wastes e, sponsored by Hon. Chidi Okoro, the counsellor representing Edem-Ani Ward, and the chairman house Committee on environment.
He said that biomedical wastes are wastes generated during the diagnosis treatment or prevention of diseases in humans or animals, stressing that the public hearing is to afford the residents the opportunity to make contributions to the bill.
“Proper management of biomedical waste is essential to protect the healthcare workers, the public and the environment, while improper handling of it can lead it to the spread of infectious diseases, containment of the environment among others,
“We will ensure that every opinion expressed would be considered during the passage of the bill,” he said.
Speaking, Chief Walter Ozioko, Nsukka Local Government Chairman, represented by his Deputy Mr. Sylvester Asogwa commended the councillors for the public hearing on the two bills.
He said that when the bills become bylaw that it will go a long way to promote hygiene as well as improve health of the residence.
“I commend the counsillors for for the public hearing that will enable residence to make their own input so that the bill when passed into law will be accepted by everyone.
“With this bill the counsellors are keying into Governor Peter Mbah’s agenda of making water available through digging borehole in strategic locations and reticulating it to residents,” he said.
Also in his contribution, HRH Igwe Ben Attama, the traditional ruler of Idu-Opi Autonomous community commended the counsellors for introducing the bill, but noted that it will be difficult to implement it given that most communities have no access to portable water.
“For instance, in my community we find it very difficult to get water to cook not to talk of getting water to flush toilet now.
“We buy four letters of water in my community at the rate of N100 and not everybody is capable of buying it on daily basis.
“Government should first of all make water available to every community before implementing this by-law else it will be very difficult for residence to comply,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr.Lewis Ugwu, the coordinating president generals of Town Union presidents in Nsukka LGA said say that the implementation of the by-law will be possible if only government will provide all the necessary things especially water.
“The bills is a good one and can be implemented only if the state government will provide the necessary things like water and sensitization of residence especially those in rural areas,” he said
Ugwu, however expressed optimism that the president administration of governor Mbah will provide the necessary things that will make the law to be effective and implementable.