Edo House of Assembly, on Thursday, passed a bill establishing John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) to take care of training of civil/public servants in the state.

The assembly also passed a bill establishing the state drug and health commodities management agency.

Majority Leader, Henry Okhuarobo (PDP-Ikpoba-Okha) moved the motion to dissolve the assembly into committee of the whole house to consider the bills clause-by-clause.

The motion was seconded by Nosayaba Okunbor (PDP-Orhiomwon East).

According to the lawmakers, the two institutions shall have governing boards whose chairmen will be appointed by the governor.

Also during plenary, a bill establishing St. Titus College of Health Sciences and Technology and another one to make provision for levying and collection of land use charge in the state passed through second reading.

Leading the debate on the bill on collection of land use charges, Mr Francis Okiye (PDP-Esan North-East I) commended the house for harmonising it.

“I’m supporting the bill, not because of the content but because of the resolve of the house to harmonise it by separating the powers of the state government from that of the local government in terms of land use charge implementation.

“When we get to the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, we will dot the I’s and cross the T’s,” he said.

Other lawmakers also expressed their unanimous support to the passage of the bill through a voice vote

The Clerk of the House, Yahaya Omogbai, thereafter, gave the bill the second reading.

(NAN)