By Ogalla Daniel
Kogi State House of Assembly, is set to strengthen environmental sanitation and waste management in the state with proposed legislation aimed at curbing public littering, defacement of public and private property and other practices harmful to public health.
This followed the submission and adoption of a report of the Joint Committee on Land, Environment and Ecological Management, Health and Judiciary on the Bill for a Law to Provide for the Prevention and Control of Public Littering, the Defacement of Public and Private Places and for Other Related Matters, 2025.
Presenting the report at plenary in Tuesday, the Committee chairman and House Leader, Suleiman Abdulrazak (APC-Okene I) said the proposed law had significant potential to improve environmental cleanliness, public health, sanitation and sustainable
While presenting the report Abdulrazak said the legislation would not only deter littering and defacement but also promote recycling and waste-management innovation, create employment opportunities and harmonise sanitation efforts between the state and local governments.
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He said stakeholders consulted during the Committee’s consideration of the Bill, including the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, Nigerian Bar Association, security and correctional agencies, civil society organisations and members of the public, broadly supported its objectives.
The Legislator however pointed out that stakeholders cautioned that enforcement must be fair, humane and transparent, warning against extortion, harassment and abuse of powers by enforcement personnel.
The Committee according to him, also called for adequate waste-management infrastructure, public enlightenment, effective complaint mechanisms and greater community participation.
Abdulrazak said the Committee also identified several drafting, constitutional and operational gaps in the Bill, including unclear definitions of institutions and enforcement personnel, inadequate safeguards on administrative penalties and fair hearing.
Other gaps encountered according to him, include insufficient time for compliance with abatement notices and ambiguities relating to identification, penalties and enforcement powers.
The committee, he said, also proposed new provisions to address littering from private vehicles, waste segregation at source, protection of whistleblowers.
He noted that offences involving minors, training and certification of enforcement officers, administrative appeals and procedures for recovering clean-up costs were also addressed.
The Committee’s comparative review of environmental sanitation laws in other jurisdictions, he said, showed that effective enforcement must be complemented by public awareness.
Adequate infrastructure, public participation, proportionate penalties, alternative sentencing, whistleblower protection and clear enforcement regulations must also be accorded top priority, he added.
The Committee therefore, recommended clearer institutional responsibilities, recognition of Environmental Health Officers, an administrative appeal mechanism, protection for whistleblowers, mandatory waste segregation and professional training and certification for enforcement personnel.
The Committee, he said, also recommended specific sanctions against officials who abuse their enforcement powers, stressing the need to ensure that implementation of the law protects citizens’ rights while achieving its environmental and public health objectives.
Motion for adoption of the Committee Report was seconded by Hon. Jibril Abu (APC-Ajaokuta) and was adopted by the Speaker with overwhelming voice votes in its favour.
