CRSHA NEWS: Hon Peter Odey Sponsors A Bill For Creation Of The CR State SDGs Agency

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Thomas Abi Jr|28 August 2015|11:27am

Yesterday, 27 August 2015, the Member representing Ogoja State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Peter Odey, has sponsored a bill for a Law to make provision for the Cross River State SDGs Agency.

Hon Odey said the bill is a development strategy which seeks to establish an agency that will drive the State's development in areas of Human Capital, Infrastructure, Human Rights and Environmental Sustainability. 

"Mr. Speaker, you will recall that the United Nations at its Millennium Summit of 2000 adopted the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs). These grants adopted 8 time-bound intentional development Goals with 18 targets and 48 technicals indicators with the aim of achieving the set goals of the MDGs. 

He further said that the MDGs were to be achieved by the year 2015 but they have not been fully achieved. Which he opined that it was not possible that any of them will be completely achieved before the end of the year. 

"Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is therefore to sustain the State's development, and adopt a post MDGs strategy to forge ahead and improve the human capital development index, provide basic infrastructure and improve the standard of living of our People".

Hon Odey stated that the bill if passed into Law was to domesticate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) originated from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Declaration which assert that every individual has dignity, and hence the right to freedom, equality, a basic standard of living that includes freedom from hunger and violence and encourage tolerance and solidarity.

In response to the bill, the Speaker, Barr. John Gaul Lebo, of the State House of Assembly stated that the bill was timely, welcoming and well thought out. Stating that it was one of the best bills that has been sponsored in the 8th Assembly.

The Member representing Bakassi State Constituency, Hon Ekpo Ekpo Bassey who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, described the bill as the best before the House. Saying that MDGs is expanding to include good health and clean environment.

Prince Thomas Abi Jr.
Cross River State House of Assembly