Reps want MKO Abiola immortalised

• Meet Dambazzau, Ali, others over insecurity
• Dogara says whistle-blowing law vital to graft fight
• Seeks domestication of Child Rights Act in 12 states

The House of Representatives yesterday enjoined the authorities to immortalise the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola who was adjudged to have won the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

The House, at its plenary session presided by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, directed the Executive arm to confer on Abiola the highest national honour post-humously in recognition of his unprecedented contributions and sacrifice to the unity, peace and progress of the nation.

The lawmakers thereby directed its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure enforcement and report back to the House in three weeks’ time.Besides, in a bid to ensure the well-being of the citizenry and insecurity in the country, the House yesterday held a closed-door meeting with the Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd).

Also in attendance were the Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau; the security chiefs; Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris; Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura and the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mohammed Gana Abubakar.

The decision to summon the security chiefs was engendered by a motion sponsored by Mr. Yakubu Barde (Kaduna-PDP) last week in the wake of the kidnap of a member of the House, Mr. Umar Durbunde.

In another development, the bill for protection of whistle-blowers in the country was described as vital in the war against corruption in Nigeria as it would greatly enhance disclosure of information on corrupt persons when passed into law by the National Assembly.

Dogara stated this at a public hearing where stakeholders assembled to consider proposals of the bill for possible passage into law. The Speaker, who declared open the hearing organised by the House Committee on Financial Crimes, said the passage of the whistle- blowers bill would help in uncovering private collaborators who connive with corrupt public servants and provide adequate safeguards against victimisation of the person making such complaints.

He further said that the bill, when passed, would make more information available for investigation of alleged corruption and misuse of power by public servants. Also, Dogara has called on the 12 states yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act to do so.

Delivering a keynote address at the second edition of the NILS/FCT Senior Secondary Schools Quiz Competition in Abuja, the Speaker noted that domestication and strict implementation of the law is critical for success in the battle to raise a future generation of national torch-bearers. He expressed concern that millions of children in 12 states do not have the appropriate legal framework for the protection of children’s rights.