Plateau State House of Assembly speaker Gabriel Dewan says the House has passed seven bills despite challenges facing the 10th assembly.

Mr Dewan stated this while briefing journalists on the assembly’s activities in the last 12 months. He explained that two of the seven bills had been assented to by the governor while the others were waiting for his assent.

He listed some bills passed, including the Plateau State Electricity Bill and the Plateau State Minimum Wage, among others.

Mr Dewan also said that apart from the bills, the lawmakers were able to move and pass some motions, such as a motion for the welfare and resettlement of internally displaced persons and a motion to increase the scholarship of Plateau indigene students.

“The 10th Plateau Assembly is one of the most challenging assemblies the state has ever had.

“As you are all aware, when we came in, I wasn’t the speaker; I was the minority chief whip, and the first five months were terrible for us,” Mr Dewan stated.

The speaker said 2023 was challenging because some inaugurated lawmakers were no longer assembly members.

“In November, when I became speaker, it was the beginning of another round of political challenges concerning the inauguration and integration of old and new assembly members.

“However, despite the political interests and clashes outside the complex, we never had issues that warranted ending the plenary abruptly,” he stated.

Mr Dewan commended members for always leaving their political views outside the legislative chambers for the good of the Plateau people.

(NAN)