By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The lawmaker representing Cross River South senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Gershom Bassey, has sponsored a total of 35 bills throughout his two-term tenure in office between 2015 and 2023 in the Senate.
The lawmaker released this statistics yesterday in Calabar while answering questions from journalists on account of his stewardship for the period that he spent at the National Assembly, representing his people.
He said that out of 35 bills, which successfully passed through the third reading, 18 were personal with 17, co-sponsored by him alongside other lawmakers. He also informed that he had, in the course of his sojourn at the National Assembly, to his credit 55 motions to his credit, with 13 being personal and 42 motions co-sponsored.
Senator Bassey averred that as the senator representing Cross River South senatorial district, he faciltated the rehabilitation and construction 318 roads within the period under review.
Enumerating other projects which he faciltated to the constituency, he said that they include: the renovation of 20 classrooms blocks; provision of 750 solar street lights; installation of 35 transformers; construction of 20 solar-powered boreholes; equipping of 20 primary health centres.
Bassey’s statement about his achievements during his sojourn at the upper chamber of the National Assembly, made available to our correspondent also mentioned youths’ empowerement programme, saying, “3,409 persons benefited from various forms of empowerment and a breakdown shows that 400 bursary grants were provided for undergraduates.
“50 foreign and local scholarships provided for post graduates students; 500 market women benefitted from grants; 1,000 youths and women were trained in various trade skills; and 300 youths trained in solar installation and maintenance.
“300 youths were also trained in entrepreneurial skills; while 20 youths receive training and certification in international sub-sea underwater electrical and welding skills.
“100 mini-buses were donated to various groups; 100 tricycles donated to various groups; 200 motorcycles donated to women and youths in my constituency
“I donated 300 modern vulcanizing machines to my constituents with 20 brand new 18- and 32-seater buses to various groups.
“I belong to 26 Senate ad-hoc committees; 18 Senate standing committees, including ECOWAS Parliament and the Nigeria-Morocco Alliance Committee; I facilitated the employment of 60 youths in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.
“15 resolutions and reinstatement to employment for aggrieved constituents, through the petitions mechanism of the senate.”
The lawmaker stressed that about N350 million was disbursed to various constituents, with 4,000 benefiting from COVID-19 grant of between N450,000 to N750,000, while 120 beneficiaries got AGSMEIS loans of N2.5 million each, adding that one ultra-modern world-class oil and gas park facilitated by him is under construction.
