The senator representing Kogi West District, Dino Melaye, said on Friday that he has submitted a bill for the abolition of State of Origin.
He made the disclosure in Abuja at the unveiling of the 18th anniversary logo of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN).
Nigerians should be united in everything instead of victimizing one another, Senator Melaye stressed, adding that the PCN had performed to the admiration of the National Assembly, hence the need to support it.
Melaye, who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has assured him that the third reading of the PCN bill in the Senate will be slated soonest.
He said: “I have submitted a bill for the abolition of State of Origin. We are one united indivisible people in this country we do not need state of origin. My bill will be that instead of state of origin we should have state of residence. Where ever you reside is your state. For example Emaka can become governor of Kano State, Oluwole can decide to become the governor of Borno State and Abudul Malik can want to become the governor of Edo State. That is the Nigeria of our dream and that is for the youth to actualize.
“The PCN has demonstrated service in your labour for Nigeria in the last 18 years. I acknowledge that you are a very responsible organization and you have done well. I want to encourage you to press on and you will continue to enjoy the support of Nigerians like myself. And the Senate President send his support and encouragement.
“He has assured me that the third reading of the bill in the Senate will be slated soonest and I want to assure you that it has been passed in the House of Representatives and I will personally supervise the concurrent in the Senate. I appreciate the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the supervisory roll and encouragement.
“I charge the Nigerian youths to shun violence; they are yet to discover their strength. This country is yours. Youth need attitudinal change”.
In his remarks, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, said government will continue to support the PCN and urged the organization to keep up the good work.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dalung advised PCN to continue to respect constituted authority with the view to enhance peace in the country.
Earlier, the National Commandant of PCN, Amb. Dickson Akoh, said despite being subjected to series of institutional and fundamental challenges, the corps has so far triumphed adding that its achievements over the years is the most recent passage of a Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps by the House of Representatives on June 9, 2016.
Akoh said it is the hope of all that the Bill will scale through third reading at the Senate.
Our correspondent reports that 18 years after its establishment, the Peace Corps of Nigeria is yet to be legally recognised as a paramilitary agency of government.
Bill To Abolish ‘State Of Origin’ Submitted To Senate – Melaye
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The country is in dire need of positive reforms and this is your main concern?
I wonder not for trivialities are what the bunch bother to put up. Alas !
When you are suppose to be passing bills on economic reforms, you busy pursuing your northern selfish interest. People are saying you can’t perform as a party and yet you are bent on your ways. The bill you’re passing has no solution to the country’s problem. It will rather bring another complex problem. You want a Fulani/Hausa to rule the Igbos? You will soon know that leadership is more than just commanding and enforcing. That idea reads the selfish interest of minority in power. I think if a policy will work, the people who are lead have to be carried along. I think majority of our politicians are people with low thinking faculty. Such a bill was read on house floor and there was no commotion? No questioning? When it is time for voting, these people are those who will move from house to house that we should not vote for other tribes. May you be brutally judged as you are toying with Nigerians’ life.
If am from Akwa Ibom, i reside in kaduna and have a state of residence certificate of kaduna. Later i move to ogun state. Is it possible to still have state of residence of ogun state?