MOTION OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE CALLING ON KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT TO HALT THE ENCROACHMENT ON PUBLIC SCHOOL’S LANDS IN OKENE I CONSTITUENCY AND KOGI CENTRAL AT LARGE.
Rt. Hon. Speaker, distinguished and well respected colleagues.
The spate at which lands of public schools has been encroached in my constituency and Kogi central at large has called for the urgency of this motion therefore, nipping this ugly situation at this point in time is of tremendous essence as we have reports of various ongoing construction projects on the school lands.
In my immediate constituency, schools like:
Government Secondary School Okene formerly known as Okene Teachers College, Esomi
Okene Secondary School, Upogo
Government Day Secondary School, Iruvucheba
Etahi Community Secondary School, Etahi
College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Okene
Abdulazeez Atta Memorial College, Okene
Local Government Secondary School, Ohiana
The above is to mention but few. Vast lands have been encroached to an extent that school children only need to peep through their windows to communicate with residents in the nearest building whenever the need arises.
These students no longer concentrate on their studies as they are easily distracted by the activities of houses surrounding them.
Recreational activities are no longer possible as most of the school fields have been grabbed by individuals who have built residential apartments on them.
School lands reserved for Agricultural practicals and other extra-curricular activities have been converted to private buildings.
Upon enquiries, the owners of the property encroaching into these premises would tell you they purchased them from one clan to the other who lay ownership claims.
Whereas section 1 of the land use acts spelt clearly that “subject to the provision of this act all land comprised in the territory of each state in the federation are hereby vested in the Governor of the State and such land shall be held in trust and administered for the use and common benefit of all Nigerians with the provision of this act”.
Rt. Hon. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, they say a stitch in time saves nine. Therefore, I crave the indulgence of all members, that the following prayers be considered:
1. That the Commissioner for Education and the D.G, Bureau of Land be mandated to go for an on-the-spot assessment to ascertain the level of encroachment on the affected schools and draw up resolutions to curb the menace.
2. That all ongoing construction on the said lands be stopped by relevant authorities with immediate effect.
3. That the state government implements the appropriate penalty on all the offenders as duly provided for in our laws.
4. That the government embarks on perimeter fencing of all the affected schools.
5. That continuous public sensitization be carried out by the government to discourage the practice among the citizenry.
Be it resolved on this day of 18th August 2020.
I so move!
Sign:
Hon. Mohammed Lawi Ahmed
Member Rep. Okene I State constituency.