Yobe State House of Assembly after passing through series of challenges and being accused of becoming a toothless bulldog in checking the excesses of the executive, recently celebrated its second anniversary in the fourth republic and 10 years of democracy.

The occasion took place at the Legislative Chambers, and as expected on such occasion security was beefed up at the venue, to the extent that some members of the Press were barred from entering the venue by the overzealous policemen. Those who were opportune to enter were not allowed to even ease themselves until the occasion was over. They were told that whoever leaves the venue would not be allowed in.

In his address on the occasion, Speaker of Yobe State House of Assembly, Hon. Usman Adamu, said the House had performed credibly in terms of legislative activities.

According to him, during the year under review the House had consistently met the constitutional provision of sitting for not less than 181 days each legislative year. "It is worthy of note that a total of 91 bills had been introduced out of which 77 were passed by the House during the 10 years of sustainable democracy in Yobe State. Out of this number of bills, a total of 11 were introduced and six were passed, while five were at committee stage in the current legislative year. Notable among the bills passed by the House within the 10 years under review include the Yobe State Appropriation and Finance Bills, Yobe State Introduction of Sharia Bill 2000, Local Government Bill 2000, Electoral Commission Bill 2001, Joint Local Government Account (and other matters related thereto) Bill 2002, Universal Basic Education Board Bill 2005, Establishment of Bukar Abba Ibrahim University, Damaturu 2006, Pilgrims Commission Bill 2007, Agency for Poverty Reduction Amendment Bill 2008, and Enviromental Protection Agency Amendment Bill 2008.

Usman added that the House had passed about 280 resolutions, including House resolution on frequent clashes between farmers and cattle rearers in the state, House resolution on the need to curtail rampant cases of armed robbery in the state, House resolution on procurement of necessary farm inputs for distribution to farmers in the state, House resolution on establishment of Boarding Primary Schools in the state, House resolution on the need to investigate mysterious cases of crippled children in Damaturu metropolis, House resolution on road embankment clearance by local government councils in the state, House resolution on dredging and control of water hyacinths in Hadejia-Yobe-Kumadugu River, House resolution on the need for further subsidy on civil servants' motorcycle loans in the state, House resolution on the need for implementation of 12.5 per cent salary increase for civil servants, etc. in the state, House resolution on implementation of ADB water supply and sanitation programmes involving all 17 local government areas in Yobe State, House resolution on the prevalence of kidney problems in Bade and neighbouring local governments, House resolution on the need for employment of indigenes into the Federal Civil Service, and House resolution on the effect of construction of Kafin Zaki Dam on inhabitants of nine local government areas in the state.

The Speaker further enumerated physical and human developments achieved by the House such as extension of office accommodation, renovation of public address system, provision of new split system air-conditioners and security gadgets in the chamber to make it conducive for conducting legislative matters.