The speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Nasir Yahaya-Daura, says the assembly has passed more than 40 substantive bills in the last two years.

The speaker revealed this achievement in a statement on Friday in Katsina to commemorate the 8th legislature’s second anniversary.

According to Mr Yahaya-Daura, the significant milestones since the inauguration in 2023 aim to reshape governance and uplift citizens’ welfare.

Mr Yahaya-Daura highlighted several cornerstone enactments driving the assembly’s transformative vision, starting with enhanced security through the establishment of the state’s Community Watch Corps to collaborate with security agencies in combating banditry.

“To further strengthen local governance, the assembly has established the Katsina State Community Development Programme (CDP), institutionalising direct community participation in development planning and execution.

“On the economic front, the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA) law provides critical support, including grants, training, and mentorship.

“This specifically targets small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs), youth, women, and vulnerable groups to spur job creation and economic diversification,” he said.

He added that another remarkable bill passed by the 8th assembly was the Katsina State Geographic Information Service (KTGIS) law.

According to the speaker, this represents a transformative leap in land administration, establishing a modern, digital framework to resolve land disputes and enhance transparency.

“This landmark legislation mandated the digitisation of all land records across the state, replacing outdated manual systems with an integrated digital platform.

“By streamlining land codification and certification processes, KTGIS eliminates bureaucratic bottlenecks, curbs fraudulent practices, and provides a reliable database for land ownership verification,” he said.

He pointed out that the assembly passed two pivotal laws related to the enhancement of agriculture, which he described as the state’s backbone.

Mr Yahaya-Daura said the Katsina State Irrigation Authority law facilitates year-round farming through advanced water management systems, bolstering food security.

“The complementary Katsina State Water Users Association Law empowers communities to collectively manage water resources for irrigation, domestic use and livestock,” he added.

The speaker said that as part of efforts to ensure transparency in governance, the assembly enacted the Katsina State Assets Management Law to centralise and digitise the system for tracking and managing all state-owned assets, thereby preventing waste and enhancing accountability.

He lauded Governor Dikko Radda for his unwavering support and profound respect for legislative independence, which led to the feat achieved by the assembly.

The speaker stated that the collaboration between the executive and legislature in the state was a model of democratic maturity, essential for advancing the state’s development agenda.

Mr Yahaya-Daura assured residents that the assembly would continue to prioritise their welfare by introducing and passing more people-centred bills.

“This will help accelerate development, strengthen institutions, enhance service delivery, and improve quality of life across the state,” he added.

(NAN)