By Musa Yaro, Calabar
The Cross River State Fire Service amendment bill 2023 has scaled second reading on the floor of the State House of Assembly.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Biase State Constituency, Hon. Ogban Francis Onette, has been committed to the House Committee on Environment for further legislative procedure.
According to the Sponsor, the State Fire Service bill was initially passed in 1985 and codified into the State laws in 2004, admitting that the law has become obsolete, a development which can no longer address the current economic realities in the state, especially in the areas of fines.
“The amendment is in two sections, section 1 provides additional powers to the Fire Service for service fines and how to collect them. “It has increased fines to a more realistic figure.
“When passed, the amendment law will reposition the State Fire Service for optimal operations thereby generating revenue into the State’s coffers,” the lawmaker argued.
Contributing to the debate, Deputy Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Davis Etta explained that fire is one of the natural hazards which can be very devastating.
He recalled that the State Governor’s first official assignment was a visit to the scene of the inferno that engulfed Bogobiri in Calabar Metropolis where property worth millions of naira were destroyed.
The lawmakers stressed the need to reposition the State Fire Service. They argued that the fines and punishment prescribed for fire offenders were no longer tenable and further advocated for an upward review of such fines as well as the upgrading of the Fire Service to operate maximally.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem maintained that the importance of a functional Fire Service cannot be over-emphasized.
Ayambem who also commended the sponsor of the bill, further committed it to the committee on environment.
