Ex-lawmaker, Onuigbo ex-rays challenges before passage of Climate Change Act 2021

A former two-term member of the National Assembly and sponsor of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021, Sam Onuigbo, has said that a lot of Nigerians are yet to know some very crucial stipulations of the law which have bearing on their well-being.

He said that the provisions of the legislation have roles for citizens, local, state and federal governments, as well as private organizations, stressing that knowledge of the individual responsibilities would help in climate mitigation and environmental sustainability.

Onuigbo during a meeting with Netherlands-based The Voice News Magazine, in Lagos, disclosed that a lot of work, personal sacrifice, and diplomacy went into the legislative process before the Climate Change Bill could become a law.

The meeting brought together diplomats, policymakers and development advocates to celebrate individuals making transformative contributions across the continent.

He told the dignitaries how the early efforts to push the legislation attracted little national attention, recalling, “When we started, it was like nobody was listening, but today, we are happy there is a lot of awareness about climate change in the country.”

Onuigbo, who is the member representing the South-East on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission, NEDC, noted that the journey to actualise the Climate Change Act was not only long, difficult and filled with setbacks, but also a collective endeavour.

He said that although recognitions have continued to be given to him for sponsoring the outstanding bill, he will remain grateful to his colleagues in the 9th National Assembly, especially the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, whom he described as a resourceful parliamentarian who exercised admirable leadership that ensured the necessary institutional support required for the bill to become an Act of Parliament.

The former lawmaker recalled the many unsuccessful attempts made to pass the bill before it finally became law.

“The proposal failed in the Sixth and Seventh Assemblies, and even after I sponsored it in the Eighth Assembly, it still did not scale through.

“It was not until I re-sponsored the bill at the Ninth Assembly that it eventually passed and received Presidential assent.”