Janet Samuel, Abuja
A Bill to amend the National Assembly Library Trust Fund has scaled second reading in the floor of the Senate.
This followed the presentation of the lead debate titled “A Bill for an Act to amend the National Assembly Library Trust Fund Amendment Act No 11 of 2022. by the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele who is also the sponsor of the bill during Tuesday’s plenary.
Leading the debate, Bamidele said that the “pivotal legislation” sought not only to modernise but also to enhance the very essence of the legislative institute.
“It represents a significant step in our commitment to fostering knowledge dissemination, preserving our legislative heritage and advancing our democratic values.
“The bill proposes to change the National Assembly Library Trust Fund to the National Assembly Library Resource Centre.”
Bamidele said that the change was more than a name alteration adding that it symbolised a shift toward inclusivity, accessibility and the recognition of the evolving need of Nigeria’s greatest institute.
Opposing the bill, Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe of -Abia south said “At this age and at this time when the President has already directed the implementation of the Oronsaye report, which means we have to consolidate things.
“What’s the difference between the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and particularly the Library and Resource Centre.
Speaking in support of the bill, Sen. Neda Imasuen (LP-Edo) said that “For an institution like ours, yes it is developing, but we are also hoping that it is a developmental strides that will grow.
“The institution will grow to an extent that other countries around us, students of universities, will find it a resource centre for research and it will deepen our democracy.”
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio while reacting to Abaribe said “Your prayer is very futuristic. What we have right now is trust fund.
“This was an act of parliament enacted last year. So realising the difficulty of operating under trust fund, they have come before us to have a change of name to National Assembly Library and Resource Centre.
“Let’s have the library and research centre and thereafter, we look at their functionalities and we see whether they need to come together as one.”
