• Direct MDAs to halt concession of public assets
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has urged the Ministry of Education to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to develop a mandatory drug test for secondary school students.
This followed the adoption of a motion on the need to introduce mandatory drug tests for secondary school students in Nigeria, by Moshood Oshun at plenary, yesterday.
Presenting the motion, he said the adolescent age remained a critical period in human development and individuals at that age are usually influenced by factors such as experimental curiosity, peer pressure, poor socio-economic conditions at home, and the need for extra energy for daily activities.
He said youths are critical stakeholders in fostering socio-economic development in the country, adding that their vulnerability to societal vices necessitates strategic government’s intervention.
This, he said, is to secure their wellbeing and enhance their contributions to national development.
He expressed concern over substance abuse by young people, which he said was fast becoming a global public health concern.
“According to studies, there is a notable prevalence of drug and substance abuse across secondary schools in Nigeria. One in every four students aged between 15 and 19 years abuse substances.”
This, he said, included codeine-containing syrup and tramadol, which topped the list of drugs, ranking higher than even cannabis.
Random Student Drug Testing (RSDT) is a drug prevention programme, whereby students are tested for recent use of illegal substances. He said the step is aimed at deterring drug use and identifying students who need help to stay away from drugs.
He said a mandatory routine and random drug testing for students was for preventive not punitive purposes, and early intervention.
He said it was crucial for achieving success in tackling the menace of substance abuse in the country.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the National Orientation Agency and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to increase awareness campaigns on substance abuse among secondary school students nationwide.
The House also mandated its Committees on Basic Education and Services, and Healthcare Services to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
Meanwhile, the House has directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to halt all concession processes, pending the outcome of its investigations.
The House Joint Committee on Public Assets and Special Duties, gave the directive at its investigative hearing following the failure of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to tender documents requested by the lawmakers.
A member of the committee, Saidu Abdullahi moved the motion that all MDAs should stop processes to concession government assets under their jurisdiction.
The chairman of the Joint Panel, Kabir Tukura Ibrahim, in his ruling, directed all the MDAs invited to appear to ensure they furnish the lawmakers with detailed reports of their activities.
“Anything regarding this concession should be suspended pending the outcome of everything that we are doing here. This goes to all the agencies here present.
“I have seen a submission from the NAPTIP; it is very skeletal, it is not informative, and it doesn’t carry what is required for us to work with. Please do a detailed report. Let it encapsulate all of the necessary areas of the concession that you are going into.
Earlier, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, while declaring the investigative hearing open, said the exercise underscored the House’s readiness to appraise the effectiveness of Public Private Partnership (PPP) programmes and concession agreements from 1999 till date.
Abbas, who was represented by his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, said the investigative hearing would enable the parliament to assess the triumphs, challenges, and overall impact of PPPs and concession agreements on our public infrastructure and services.