A Bill for an Act to repeal the National Commission for Refugees on Wednesday, scaled second reading at the Senate.
Before the passage, Sen. Ubali Shitu (APC-Jigawa) had in a lead debate, said that the bill would provide a framework for management and reintegration of victims of displacement and migration.
He said that the objectives of the bill included utilising the National Commission for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as central coordinating agency in managing, facilitating and administering matters related to IDPs.
The lawmaker said that the other objectives of the bill were facilitation of institutional and stakeholders collaborations and networks for effective management of IDPs in the country.
He noted that as at 2014, Nigeria had 3.3 million people displaced by conflict, saying that it was the highest number in Africa.
“This figure as released by the 2014 Global Overview report also adds that Nigeria ranked behind Syria with 6.5 million IDPs.
Contributing, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos) said that the bill would help in the resettlement of refugees in the country.
“The global effect of the bill will make it easy for donor agencies to give grants toward assisting the IDPs,” he said.
In his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at plenary, after putting the question to a voice vote, referred the bill to the Committee on Special Duties and Interior.
He gave the committee four weeks to report back.
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