The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking to establish a comprehensive state policy on climate change, aimed at integrating climate action into government planning and protecting communities from environmental impacts.
The bill, titled “A Law to Provide for Nasarawa State Policy on Climate Change for the Mainstreaming of Climate Change Actions in Nasarawa State, to Provide for the Establishment of a Climate Change Advisory Committee and Other Related Purposes,” was passed during Monday’s plenary in Lafia, presided over by Speaker Dr. Danladi Jatau.
Dr. Jatau said the legislation was designed to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on the environment and improve the wellbeing of the people. He explained that once signed into law by Governor Abdullahi A. Sule, the bill would establish a Climate Change Advisory Committee, to be chaired by the governor, and a Climate Change Agency, which will be responsible for formulating and implementing state-level climate policies.
“The bill is a major step towards ensuring Nasarawa State takes proactive measures in addressing the challenges of climate change,” the Speaker said. He commended Hon. Mohammed Omadefu (APC–Keana), who sponsored the bill, and applauded other members of the Assembly for their support and constructive contributions.
The Speaker further directed the Clerk of the House to prepare a clean copy of the bill for the governor’s assent.
Earlier, the Majority Leader, Hon. Suleiman Azara, moved a motion for the bill to be read for the third time, which was seconded by Hon. Luka Zhekaba, the Minority Leader.
The motion received unanimous approval from all members present.
With the passage of the bill, Nasarawa State joins a growing number of states in Nigeria developing local frameworks to address the global climate crisis through coordinated policy action and institutional mechanisms.
