Senate passes National Poverty Eradication Commission Bill into law

A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of National Poverty Eradication Commission (NAPEC) has been passed by the Nigerian Senate.

While submitting a report on behalf of the Senate joint committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said, “This is the first time in the history of the Nigerian federal legislature that an attempt is boldly being made in passing into law, a Bill that would put to test, the justifiability of economic and social provisions as contained in the Act.”

The Bill which was read for the second time on the 21st April 2016 and committed to the joint committee, seeks to enact a law that will strengthen the execution of the Poverty Eradication Programmes in Nigeria.

The Bill recommended a Director – General (DG) as the executive head of the commission, when established, with about 5 directorates under the DG, among other staff.

When assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Commission shall also be administered by a National Coordination Council, to include, a chairman, six other members, one representing each of the six geopolitical zones of the country, the Special Adviser to the President on Poverty Eradication, President of the National Association of Small Scale Industries and representatives of relevant government agencies.