The Anambra State House of Assembly on Tuesday during plenary, passed the Anambra State Herbal Practices Bill 2024, into law. The law, a private member bill sponsored by Hon. Tony Muobike, the member representing Aguata II constituency and the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, went into committee stage months ago and was scrutinized by the Joint Committee on Health and Judiciary. During plenary on Tuesday, the House considered the report of the joint committee and after due consideration of the report, the bill was read for the third and final time, and then passed into law.
Speaking to journalists after the passage of the bill, Hon. Muobike thanked his colleagues and the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Somto Udeze, for their support which he acknowledged helped the bill to scale through. He also expressed confidence that the law will drive sanity and order in herbal practice in Anambra State. “This law is designed to curb anomalies in herbal practice in Anambra State. It will regulate the practice of herbal medicine”, Hon. Muobike said.
Meanwhile, the House of Assembly also considered the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the audited accounts of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Anambra State Government, for the year ending December 31st, 2023. In his presentation, Hon. Noble Igwe, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts and the House member representing Ogbaru I constituency recommended that there should be continuous training for staff of MDAs. He also recommended the direct release of funds to MDAs, among others. The motion for the adoption of the report as a working document for the legislature was moved by Hon. Noble Igwe. Both Hon. Emma Nwafor and Hon. Anayo Okpaleke spoke in favour of the report and it was subsequently adopted by the House.
Similarly, two new bills were introduced during plenary on Tuesday and both were subsequently read for the first time. The Anambra State Health Care Trust Fund is sponsored by Hon. Noble Igwe and the Anambra State Gaming Bill 2024. However, the Anambra State School Regulation Bill 2024, sponsored by Hon. Jude Akpua was stepped down.
In a separate motion, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme moved for the presentation of the Anambra State Medium Term Expenditure Framework – MTEF and it was sustained.
Earlier, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Somto Udeze announced the creation of two more committees; House Committee on Media and Publicity, to be chaired by Hon. Ejike Okechukwu, and House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security.
The motion for adjournment was moved by Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme and seconded by Hon. Johnbosco Akaegbobi, the Minority Leader of the House. The House was adjourned to Tuesday, September 5, 2024.
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