A bill for a price control board to regulate the price of essential commodities has scaled first reading at the Niger House of Assembly.

This followed the presentation of the bill’s general principles by the sponsor ISA Etsugaie (APC-Agaie) at plenary on Thursday.

Presenting the bill, Mr Etsugaie said the board would study the market situation in the state to restructure the deteriorating supply and demand mechanism.

He added that the board would assess essential commodities’ delivery and distribution patterns to ensure that the people had a fair share of essential commodities.

He said the board would also regulate the mode of distribution of essential commodities and monitor activities of the state supply company and other commercial organisations.

The lawmaker said the board would help keep prices under continuous surveillance, interpret price movements, and relate them to other developments in the state economy.

He said the board would submit a report directly to the governor on the market situation all over the state, among others.

The bill was thereafter adopted by the parliament and passed through the first reading.

(NAN)