The Enugu State House of Assembly on the 3rd of June, 2020, held a public hearing on a bill for a law to repeal and re-enact the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) law of 2010.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi while declaring the hearing open said that CSDP is a very critical part of what Enugu state does as its activities touches the poorest of the poor in the society.
The Speaker who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Engr. Uche Ugwu also enjoined the participants to have an open mind so that “…we can have a robust engagement that will benefit the entire people of Enugu state.
The Joint committee chairman, Rt. Hon Paul Nnajiofor said the committee was set up on the 24th May, 2020, after the second hearing of the bill my the House.
Nnajiofor, who represents Nkanu East constituency said the review of the old became necessary as a lot has changed since 2010 when the law was passed and the review will help position the agency for better service delivery to the people of Enugu state.
Nnajiofor who’s also the House Committee chairman on rural development said the success of the event will also help in community development drive which is very dear to the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi stressing that the Governor is very concerned about rural development.
The guest speaker at the hearing, Barr. Crownwell Chibuzo in his speech said that; “Community and Social law is a gateway for grass-root improvement and development.”
He further maintained that; “The bill is not just timely, it has come to add life to what the state government is doing in rural areas.
The General Manager of the CSDP, Dr. Maximus Asogwa in his presentation said the repealing and re-enacting the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) law of 2010 is very necessary because Enugu is the only state amongst the 30 participating states and the FCT that’s not using the generic law.
He therefore, pleaded with the House to repeal the old law and re-enact the generic law as it’s one of the conditions that most be met by the state to be able to move to the next level of the CSDP programme; COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic stimulus (CARES) that will be commencing in October, 2020.
In his remark, the Chairman of CSDP board Comr. Ohabuenyi Ibuchukwu Ezike commended the House for the attention given to the bill stressing that turning into law in the shortest time possible is key to the survival of the project.
Comr. ibuchukwu also appealed to the House to look into the plight of the board members who aren’t direct employees of the state government and make provision for monthly remuneration for them as done for other board members in the state.
Those in attendance include; President General of town Unions, members of the civil society, youth leaders, women leaders and the media.
