The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has stated that Africa is suffering from climate change, emphasizing the need for wealthy countries around the world to support the continent in conquering the issues.
Kalu made the declaration while participating in the general debate on “Parliamentary action for peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16)” during the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Luanda, Angola, on Thursday.
He noted that the climate change bill was put into law by the National Assembly to ensure that global standards were followed.
He also highlighted the contributions of the National Assembly of Nigeria towards building virile social institutions and promoting peace and justice as espoused in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 16).
He said “The National Assembly has also passed the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which reforms the Nigerian oil and gas sector. The PIA is expected to promote transparency and accountability in the sector, strengthen the institutional framework, and attract investment.
“As a parliament representing the people, we devoted ample time to ensuring the improvement of our electoral act amended in 2022 to enable the integrity of the electoral process through technology, which has led to the reduction of the post-election crisis.
“To ensure inclusion, the Nigerian parliament passed the Federal Character Commission Act for better management of our diversity. This Legislation minimises dominance and ensures nobody is left behind
“It is often said that justice delayed is justice denied. To ensure the speedy dispensation of justice, the Nigerian Criminal Justice Act has been and continues to be improved to ensure better access to justice.
“The National Assembly’s legislative contributions to peace, justice, and strong institutions have been significant. However, there is still more work to be done,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker said that proactive steps have been taken for the enactment of the Northeast Development Commission and the Niger Delta Development Commission, along with other bills such as the Southeast Development Commission, which is a work in progress, as a way of addressing the issues.
Decrying the violence in Sudan and the avoidable devastation of lives and property in Ukraine, Israel, and Gaza, Kalu urged the global leaders to find solutions rather than trading blame.
