21/08/2025
BAHA PLENARY
Summary of the Votes and Proceedings during the plenary at the Bauchi State House of Assembly presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Jamilu Ummaru Dahiru today the 21st of August, 2025. The plenary started with prayers followed by the Roll Call of Members through which Eighteen (18) of the Honorable Members were in attendance.
APPROVAL OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS
Following the absence of any correction or observation, the Majority Leader, Hon. Saleh Hodi Jibir (representing Disina Constituency) moved a Motion for its approval, he was seconded by the Deputy Majority Leader, Rt. Hon Babayo Muhammad Akuyam (representing Hardawa Constituency), then the Speaker through acceptance of Members approved it.
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR
The Majority Leader, Hon. Saleh Hodi Jibir informed the House that there was no message received from the Executive Governor of the State.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Speaker announced that Members of the Ad-hoc Committee for the Creation and Restoration of Local Government Area were summoned for a meeting immediately after the plenary.
PETITION(S)
The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petition, Hon. Ibrahim Tanko Burra stated that there was none before the Honorable House.
MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE/PERSONAL EXPLANATION
The Speaker said that there were no Matters of Urgent Public Importance or Personal Explanation to be made to the House.
LAYING OF A COMMITTEE REPORT
The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Religious Affairs, Hon. Barr. Habibu Umar (representing Kirfi Constituency) sought the House to allow him to lay a report on a Bill for a Law to Establish the Bauchi State Hisbah Board, 2024, (HB 017). The request got a secondment from Hon. Garba Aminu (representing Pali Constituency), the Speaker then approved for the report to be laid, it was then laid before the Honorable House.
CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF THE REPORT
The House approved the following recommendations as contained in the Bill, they include;
1. Interpretation Clause: Under citation, a new Section 3 should be inserted, titled "INTERPRETATION", to state: "This Law shall apply throughout Bauchi State".
2. Definition of Government: The term "Commissioner" should be defined to mean the Commissioner, Ministry of Religious Affairs.
3. Structure of the Board: Section 4 should be amended to include the "COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD".
4. Part-Time Membership: Under item "C" "A", include "as part-time members", to read: " A representative from each of the following as part-time members".
5. Inclusive of Islamic sects: Under item "xi" to read: "Not less than 10 but not more than 15 persons of unquestionable character across various Islamic sects".
6. Advisory Roles: A new subsection should be added to Section 4: "xii". The Board may invite any person to attend its meetings whose advice or opinion is required in deliberations on any matter before the Board".
7. Qualifications for Appointment: Section 8(2) (a) should be amended to include "or it's equivalent", to read: "Be an experienced administrator, or a Muslim with good knowledge of Islamic law or it's equivalent, and have not less than ten (10) years in the service of the State".
8. Duties of the Secretary: Section 8 should include a new heading titled "FUNCTIONS OF THE SECRETARY".
9. Board Responsibilities: Section 9 should be amended to read "FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD".
10. Disciplinary Procedures: Section 9(2) should be amended to include" in accordance with public service rules" to read "The Hisbah Board may investigate and apply appropriate disciplinary measures on its staff in accordance with public service rules".
11. Monitoring if Reconciliation Councils: Section 17(c) should be amended to include: "on supervision and monitoring the activities of Zauren Sulhu within the State".
12. Detention Powers: Section 20(4) should be rephrased to substitute "and" with "whose", to read: Hisbah as an institution shall have the power to invite, arrest and detain a dependant whose case is under investigation for a period not exceeding 48 hours, and to report to the appropriate authority for prosecution or release on administrative bail".
13. Referral to Relevant Authorities: Section 20(d) should be rephrased to read: "Where the offence cannot be handled by Hisbah personnel, the Hisbah may liaise with relevant authorities to complete the investigation and forward the matter to the appropriate court for trial.
The Majority Leader, Hon. Saleh Hodi Jibir then moved a Motion for the Third Reading to be taken, he was seconded by the Deputy Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Babayo Muhammad Akuyam and the Speaker directed Clerk of the House, Hajiya Hauwa Ahmed Abubakar Esq to read it. The Third Reading was then taken, the Bill will be passed to the Executive Arm of Government for assentment.
MOTION
The Motion according to the Order Paper Hon. Abubakar Adamu Salihu (representing Giade Constituency) supposed to present was stepped down due to his absence in the House.
MOTION
Ahmed Muhammad Lele (representing Udubo Constituency) sought the permission of the House to present a Motion Calling on the Executive Arm of Government to Construct a Road from Zindiwa - Tarmasuwa in Udubo Constituency to Dambam Town, Dambam Local Government Area. He was seconded by Hon. Sa'idu Yusuf Ahmed (representing Zungur/Galambi/Miri Constituency) and then the Speaker through Members of the House approved for the Motion to be presented.
In his presentation, Hon. Hon Ahmed Mohammed Lele stated that the road linking Zindiwa - Tarmasuwa in his Constituency was not just an ordinary rural road but a strategic economic lifeline that connects several communities across Udubo and Dambam axis. He highlighted that the present condition of the road remained a major setback to the socio-economic development of the area as it became impassable during the rainy season. People of the area according to him have been counting huge losses as farm produce got spoiled or cannot reach markets and extremely difficult to access hospitals by pregnant women or children to reach schools. The Motion has the following prayers;
1. Call on the Executive Arm of Government to immediately prioritize and commence the construction of the Zindiwa - Tarmasuwa to Dambam Town Road.
2. Ensure that this project is captured in the State's budgetary and infrastructural development plans for timely ex*****on.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MOTION
Hon. Hon Musa Wakili Nakwada (representing Ζogoro Constituency) commended mover of the Motion for the care, concern and resolving problems of his constituents. Also, he corrected that the House do not tell the Executive Arm of Government to do things IMMEDIATELY but CALL or APPEAL.
Hon. Barr. Habibu Umar (representing Kirfi Constituency) noted that the Motion was of paramount importance as the condition of the road has been bad, he further said that constructing it would enhance the economic activities of people in the area.
The Speaker congratulated the entire Honorable Members of the House for always presenting pleas, demands and aspirations of their respective constituents; he urged them to never relent in doing so.
QUESTION PUT AND AGREED TO RESOLVE ACCORDINGLY IN THE AFFIRMATIVE
The House resolved that it would communicate prayers of the Motion to the Executive Arm of Government.
ADJOURNMENT
The Majority Leader, Hon. Saleh Hodi Jibir moved a Motion for the sitting to be adjourned to Tuesday the 26th of August, 2025, he was seconded by the Deputy Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Babayo Muhammad Akuyam and the Speaker through Members of the House approved it; the plenary was then enveloped.
Signed:
Mukhtar Garba Kobi
Spokesperson of the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly.
21/8/2025
π· Ibrahim Miji and Zakiyya photos
