Non-Oil Producing Commission Bill passes first reading

A bill for an Act to establish the Non-Oil Mineral Resources Producing Communities Development Commission has passed its first reading.

This is just as a Bill for an Act to establish the Federal College of Agriculture Agila, Benue State, also passed its first reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.

The Bill seeks to create a federal institution dedicated wholly to agriculture with a tripodal mandate of teaching, research, and extension services in Agila, Ado local government area of the State

The Bill sponsored by Hon. Philip Agbese (APC, Benue), representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency of Benue State, when passed into law, will seek to develop mining communities that have often suffered neglect over the years.

The federal government has been unable to get the full benefits of the mining sector partly due to insecurity and lack of capacity.

Some of the States to benefit from this proposed legislation include Zamfara, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, and Enugu.

Agbese said the Non-Oil Mineral Resources Producing Communities Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, would help mining host communities reap the benefit of the resources in their locality.

“We have some communities in the country where mining activities have taken place over five decades. We have Jos (Plateau State), Nkalagu (Enugu State), Obajana (Kogi State), Agila, Gboko (Benue State), and many others in Zamfara State.

“All these places, limestone, gold, and other natural resources are harvested while the communities are neglected. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has rested the issue of corporate social responsibilities solely in the hands of companies.

“Ultimately, these companies do nothing, and the communities don’t benefit after the government must have received taxes.

“The essence of the agency is to thoroughly follow up with the welfare of these communities by tasking companies with a certain percentage of their profit. Just like the NDDC, this commission will, in turn, make sure that the communities are developed with better infrastructure.”