FG moves to repeal National Lottery Act 2005
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
The federal government, has expressed willingness to repeal Lottery Act (NLA), 2005.
It said after the repealing of the act, would be replaced by National Gaming Act (NGA), 2021.
The minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs, senator George Akume disclosed this in Gombe yesterday, during the virtual commissioning and hand over of vital medical equipment to the state’s Special Hospital and Federal Teaching Hospital.
Items donated includes; Ultrasound scan machine, Digital x-ray machine, Oxygen concentrators, Theatre beds, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Akume noted that the national gaming act, would accommodate the growing dynamism of lottery business in the country, and help steer the “industry to International best practices of improved good cause, interventions across the country and also sanitise the industry for improved revenues,” he said.
Akume charged all persons and organisations licensed to engage in national business, should be ready to meet up with their statutory obligation to avoid being sanctioned.
He added that: “Government is committed in ensuring that returns obtainable from other non-oil sources of revenues are maximised, hence lottery is one of such alternative revenue sources that this government has identified and is determined to make it more productive and sustainable
“As the sector becomes firmly established, it is our expectation that lottery will be be included bin the strategic plans of the nation.”
Also speaking, Executive secretary/CEO, National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF), Dr. Bello Maigari said the decision of federal government to establish the National Lottery Trust Fund, is “indicative of a government that recognises the importance of lottery as a vehicle in enhancing the social well-being of Its citizenry through investment in Its various lottery good cause Intervention projects that are creative, relevant, timely and economical sustainable.”
Maigari who was represented at the occasion by head of operation, NLTF, Abubakar Nakwada noted that the essence of the intervention, is to provide “vital medical equipment to under-served communities in the hope that government will make all the difference in saving lives and reversing the deteriorating health conditions leveraging the use of Hi-Tech diagnostic equipment to provide high standards of care to vulnerable segment of society with sizeable percentage of state across the six geo-political zones covered so far bin the phase of the intervention.”
Speaking, Chief Medical Director of Federal Teaching Hospital, Dr. Yusuf Abdullahi said the donation has improved how they managed patients
He said over 100,000 patients have benefitted from various vital equipment donated.
The Chief medical Director appealed to the federal government for alternative power, saying that the hospital spent over 113 million naira on monthly basis for power supply.
“I will like to sincerely appreciate Minister of Special Duties and Inter Government Affairs, and National Lottery Trust Fund. It has improved the way and manner we have been managing our patients,” Abdullahi said.
