REPS PROPOSES COMMUNICATION SERVICE TAX FOR EMERGENCY NEEDS AND SERVICES.

REPS PROPOSES COMMUNICATION SERVICE TAX FOR EMERGENCY NEEDS AND SERVICES. The unemployed youths, elderly and indigent will soon smile as sustainability allowances trust bill has been creatively proposed to establish a fund to be known as the unemployed youths, elderly and indigent sustainability allowances trust fund with 30% of the money accruing from the Communication Service Tax to be utilized for the Emergency needs and Services such as payment of stipends to the unemployed, subsidizing infant, hypertension and diabetes drugs. The House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development today deliberated on the bills during the public hearing on social welfare for the elderly, unemployed youths, the indigent and the Nigeria children’s trust fund (Amendment) bills. The chairman of the committee, Hon. Princess Stella Ngwu in her speech to all stakeholders said the public hearing is organized to create a window of participation for all Nigerians in the Legislative process for the enactment of Laws relating to the elderly, the youths and the Children. The Speaker of the House of Representatives ably represented by the deputy minority leader of the house, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema Wilfred declared the public hearing opened with a prompt consideration on the the bills for discussion. The bills were referred to the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Youth Development and Telecommunications for Legislative action. A bill for an act to establish the National council on ageing so as to provide social welfare service for the elderly and for the purpose of designing developmental programmes and Activities for the advancement of elderly persons in Nigeria open for submissions was sponsored by Hon.Joan Mrakpor. The second bill for discussion on the unemployed youth empowerment trust fund, elderly and indigent sustainability allowances trust fund was sponsored by Hon. Saheed Akinade Fijabi from Oyo State. The Nigeria Children’s Trust Fund Amendment bill, on the other hand seeks to amend the Nigerian children’s fund act to initiate suited modalities for Child protection and care for the proper administration and distribution of welfare services and to ensure that the benefit of the fund is accessible to all Nigeria children. Stakeholders were asked to make submissions to the house as the deputy chairman of the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Ekpoattai Owoidighe Ime closed the Public hearing with a vote of thanks to all who have contributed especially the elderly community present.