The Sokoto State House of Assembly has passed a bill to repeal the State Zakkat and Endowment Commission Law No. 4 of 2022 and to establish the State Zakkat and Endowment Agency.

This development followed the consideration of the report from the House Committee on Religious Affairs, presented during the assembly’s plenary session on Thursday.

Presenting the report, Committee Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu (APC-Yabo) reminded members that the executive bill received its first and second readings on June 26, after which it was referred to the committee for further scrutiny.

“Immediately after, the committee swung into action, conducting a public hearing and obtaining memoranda from relevant stakeholders,” he said.

Shehu explained that the amendment aims to provide for the collection, management, and distribution of Zakkat and Endowment in the state by the government, corporations, organisations, and private individuals.

He said that the committee recommended replacing the word “Agency” with “Board” and the word “Chairman” with “Board” in Section 22 of the bill.

“Additionally, staff of the agency who are not civil servants with pension rights and gratuities shall be entitled to not more than 1/8 of the Zakkat generated by the agency.

“In the heading of the first schedule and the ensuing paragraphs 1-10 of the Bill, replace the word ‘Agency’ with ‘Board,’” he added.

Shehu thanked all the stakeholders who participated in the public hearing and provided both written and oral input to contribute to the success of the report.

Presenting the Bill for the third reading, Alhaji Bello Idris (APC-Gwadabawa North), the House Majority leader, said the amendment will enhance the standard of Zakkat and Endowment in the state.

The Deputy Speaker Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim (APC-Kware), who presided over the plenary session, put the motion to a voice vote, and the lawmakers unanimously adopted the bill’s amendment.

In a related development, the assembly has passed a bill to repeal the Sokoto State Tenancy Control and Safety of Persons Commission Law No. 6 of 2019.

This followed the consideration of the report from the joint House Committees on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and that of Judiciary, Justice, and Human Rights.

Presenting the report, Alhaji Shamsu Aliyu (APC-Wurno), the Committee Chairman, said the amendment aims to establish the “Sokoto State Tenancy Control and Safety of Persons Agency.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the executive bill was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers as the Deputy Speaker put the motion to a vote. (NAN).