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By our Correspondents |
Moves by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to compel public office holders and students of tertiary institutions of learning to undertake drug integrity test have been endorsed by some state House of Assemblies.
In separate interviews with LEADERSHIP Friday, leaders of the state legislatures said the initiative will bring sanity to the polity and ensure that only people with sound mind occupy public offices.
In Kwara State, the chairman, Public Accounts Committee of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Saheed Popoola and another lawmaker, Hon. Raheem Agboola, described the call for drug test for public office holders as a welcome development.
Popoola, however, said for the plan to materialise, NDLEA chairman, Brig-Gen Buba Marwa (rtd), should sponsor a bill to that effect at the National Assembly.
The lawmaker who represents Ojomu/Balogun constituency (Offa), said without an appropriate legislation, politicians would not take him seriously.
He said, “The call for drug test for public office holders in the country is not a bad idea. It will not however work until it becomes a constitutional arrangement. If the NDLEA chairman wants something like that, he should sponsor a bill to that effect at the National Assembly. If not, politicians will not take him seriously.”
On whether he will support a legislation on drug test for public office holders, the lawmakers said, “I won’t say yes or no until a time when such a bill is tabled before the state House of Assembly. This is because if I support the bill and others do not align with my position, my view becomes a minority judgement.”
He added that if the arrangement works, it would certainly aid the fight against drug abuse in the country.
To Agboola, the only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the 24-man House of Assembly, he would support Marwa’s move hundred percent.
Agboola who represents Ilorin South Constituency said hewould not hesitate to support such Bbill if sponsored from any quarters.
“Drug test for public office holders is a good idea. I support it hundred percent. Nobody should be left behind in the drug test, be it public office holders, technocrats and even drivers. This will greatly help in the fight against drug abuse,” Agboola stated.
The chairman, Information Committee, Jigawa State House of Assembly, Hon Aminu Zakari Gwaiwa, said the state legislature is ever ready to make…
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