The Kaduna State House of Assembly has passed two major bills designed to empower the state’s youth and secure the welfare of its retirees.
The first bill establishes the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skill Development. This institute is mandated to provide comprehensive training, research, certification, and entrepreneurship promotion, aiming to transform the skills landscape in the state.
Shortly after the passage, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Emmanuel Kantiyok, addressed journalists. He emphasised that the core objective of the new law is to equip young people with practical, market-relevant skills to foster self-reliance and reduce unemployment.
“The essence of the bill is to equip youths with practical skills that will make them self-employed, especially considering the global shift towards entrepreneurship,” Kantiyok stated.
He detailed that the legislation provides a robust institutional framework, including provisions for the appointment of a Provost, Deputy Provosts, and management staff to oversee operations.
The law also clearly outlines admission criteria, sustainable funding mechanisms, and governance structures to ensure the institute’s effectiveness and longevity.
Kantiok highlighted that the initiative is particularly geared towards individuals whose talents lie in trades and handwork, offering a valuable alternative to conventional academic pathways.
In a parallel development, the Assembly also passed an amendment to the Kaduna State Social Security Law No. 8 of 2023. Hon. Magaji Henry, the Deputy Speaker of the House, explained that the amendment is crucial for overhauling and improving pension administration in Kaduna State.
Describing pension as a “critical component of governance,” Henry stressed the moral obligation to ensure retirees who dedicated their careers to public service receive adequate care and timely payment of their benefits.
“The amendment focuses on contributions from both the state and local governments to jointly fund pension obligations,” he said. “Whether you worked at the state or local government level, you served Kaduna State. This law allows both tiers of government to pool resources to cater for pensioners.”
He added that the revised law would enhance the operational efficiency of the state pension bureau, ensuring that payments are disbursed promptly upon the release of funds.
In other legislative business a bill for a law to repeal and re-enact the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority Law No. 7 of 2010, known as the ‘Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority Bill, 2025 successfully passed its second reading on the floor of the House.