Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industries, has revealed his accomplishments since taking office 14 months ago.
Tokunbo Abiru, the senator representing Lagos East in the Senate, revealed that he has sponsored 12 bills and four motions in the last 14 months while delivering an account of his stewardship.
Among the bills sponsored by the APC are the Copyright Act Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2021; the Dishonoured Cheques Act Cap D11 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Federal High Court Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the Federal Polytechnic Epe (Establishment) Bill, 2021; the Utilities Charges Commission Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021; and the Utilities Charges Commission Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021.
Other bills include the Control of Delegated Legislation (Control and Procedure) Bill, 2021; the National Boundary Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021; the National Economic Intelligence Committee (Establishment) Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021; the National Economic Reconstruction Fund Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021; the National Productivity Centre Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021; the National Metallurgical Development Centre Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021; and the Energy Commission of Nigeria Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021.
He noted that despite assuming office at a crucial moment in Nigeria’s history, when the country was slowly emerging from a recession exacerbated by COVID-19, he was able to sponsor a slew of bills and motions addressing a range of issues, including banking and financial services, the economy, copyright, health, infrastructure, and the establishment of a legal framework to reduce the cost of governance.
According to Abiru, all of the bills have been read for the first time on the Senate floor, with the exception of the Copyright Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Law, which has been read for the second time after the public hearing and is now awaiting the committee’s report on the bill.
All of the bills have been read for the first time on the Senate floor, with the exception of the Copyright Act (repeal and re-enactment) Bill, 2021, which has been read for the second time after the public hearing and is awaiting the Committee’s report on the bill.
Also, in response to my motion calling on the Federal Government to intervene urgently in the Ikorodu/Sagamu Road and the Ikorodu/Itoikin/Epe Epe Road, our intervention, with necessary follow-up and leverage on our network, has yielded positive results, as the Federal Government has included the funding of the Ikorodu-Shagamu in the SUKUK Financing program, and the Ikorodu-Itoikin in the 2022 Budget.
Abiru said that, in addition to supporting bills and motions, he launched a N100 million Constituency Intervention Revolving Loan, which he said would have a very low concessional interest rate of 6% per annum.
The Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) both donated N100 million, bringing the total intervention funds to N300 million, according to him.
The N300 million constituency intervention revolving loan scheme, according to the legislator, will be unveiled next month for the benefit of MSMEs, artisans, and tradesmen in Lagos East.
Abiru revealed that the TACT Foundation had helped 600 poor students and empowered 1,000 MSMEs across the senatorial district.
In Epe, he explained, a 960-seat mini-stadium was built for the benefit of the people, particularly the youth.
According to him, the two-pavilion sports facility is almost ready for commissioning and is equipped with basketball and volleyball courts.
He said two blocks of six classrooms at RCM Primary School, Iwerekun, Ibeju-Lekki, had been finished.
Ajelogo Primary School in Agboyi-Ketu LCDA has also received a block of three classrooms.
He stated he helped build four blocks of 24 classrooms with all the necessary furniture, 16 bathrooms, and a solar-powered borehole in Ikorodu Central.
The infrastructure has significantly improved the school’s learning outcomes.