Zulum signs bill to support Boko Haram, rape victims

Babangana Zulum, governor of Borno, has signed nine bills into law, including the social investment bill that seeks to support victims of insurgency. 

The bills were signed into law on Wednesday at a ceremony held at the council chambers of the Government House in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Zulum said the social investment bill was proposed to provide legal backing for the state to provide special support to victims of Boko Haram attacks.

Other bills signed into law include Borno state criminal justice administration laws, Borno state penal code law, Borno state secondary education board bill, Borno state investment protection bill, Borno primary healthcare development bill, Borno state drugs and other medical consumable bill, Borno state livestock management bill and the Borno local government amendment bill.

“The Social Investment Bill provides social services such as cash and consumables assistance to the victims of Boko Haram insurgency,” Zulum said.

“The Borno State Criminal Justice Administration Law will address the increasing cases of rape and political thuggery and those found involved in political thuggery risk seven  years imprisonment and their sponsors will also not go unpunished.”

Zulum added that the investment protection bill will provide the government with the powers “to tap the vast mineral deposit in the state”.

He noted that the drugs and medical consumable bills will reduce the problem of fake and counterfeit drugs in the state

Zulum commended the state house of assembly for the cordial working relationship with the executive arm.

He said within the last four years, the executive arm sent about 70 bills to both the 9th and 10th assembly from which most were passed by the house and assented to by him.