Bill To Legalize French Village Passes Second Reading

The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the second reading of a bill to grant legal backing to the Nigeria French Village in Badagry, following its earlier passage in the 8th senate without Presidential assent. 

This news platform understands that the bill was sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola, the All Progressives Congress (APC) member representing Lagos West Senatorial District in the current 9th Senate.

The bill titled, "A bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the Nigeria French Language Village as an Inter-University Centre for French Studies and other Matters Connected therewith, 2020" sought to give legal backing to the institution which has been in existence since 1991 without legislation.

Leading the debate on the second reading of the bill, Senator Adeola recalled that it was originally presented by Senator Gbenga Ashafa in the 8th Senate, and despite a public hearing and passage for the Third reading, it was not sent for assent and therefore need to go through a renewed legislative process in the 9th Senate.

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The senator said, “The economic downturn of the 80s coupled with the devaluation of the national currency had made students participation in the year abroad programme extremely expensive and unbearable to parents and sponsors.

"The need to find an acceptable and efficient alternative led to the establishment of the Village through a Memo by the then government of General Ibrahim Babangida to operate under the National University Commission.” 

Senator Adeola asserted that Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind in French Language proficiency among the comity of the nation adding that there is a need to “equip all eligible and interested Nigerians with French skills across interpersonal relationship as well as take up employment slots meant for Nigerians at the global level”.

The second reading was supported by Senator Smart Adeyemi based on all our neighbours being Francophone countries, was not opposed by any Senator, and was committed to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institution and TETFUND for further legislative action.