Dust over Senate’s drug test for politicians

Recently, the upper legislative chambers of the National Assembly, the Senate, was thrown into uproar following a bill seeking to create a new agency to handle narcotics and rehabilitation of drug abusers in the country.

Trouble was reported to have started when the senator representing Kano South, Sumaila Kawu, advocated that elected and appointed political officeholders be subjected to drug tests before assuming office.

Senator Kawu canvassed for the position while contributing to a debate on the general principles of the bill seeking to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation to coordinate and promote awareness, prevent substance abuse and facilitate the rehabilitation of drug users.

The bill which was sponsored by Rufai Hangar, representing Kano Central, engaged the lawmakers in a heated argument on the floor of the senate over the new bill.

The Kano South senator had alleged that some lawmakers’ homes and their constituency offices are used…