Senate has approved the establishment of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) to address the challenges facing the seven states in the geopolitical zone.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Coming on the heels of an earlier initiative for the South East region, the Senate has approved the establishment of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) to address the challenges facing the seven states in the geopolitical zone.
The decision was sequel to the adoption and consideration of a report of the Committee on Special Duties submitted to it Thursday.
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin and 20 other senators from the seven states which make up the North West geopolitical zone, sponsored the establishment bill.
Chairman of the Senate Special Duties Committee, Shehu Lawan Kaka (APC, Borno Central), moved the motion for the presentation and consideration of the report, while Sen. Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT) seconded the motion.
While presenting the report, Senator Kaka explained that the initiative is structured and strategically streamlined for the socio-economic development of the North West Zone.
He further explained that the commission if established would bring the federal government closer to the North Western states and meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people who have suffered incalculable damage to infrastructure and livelihoods as a result of the activities of bandits.
Kaka, therefore, urged the Senate to pass the bill.
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When the bill was put to voice vote by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, it was unanimously supported.
In his remarks shortly after, Senator Jibrin commended his colleagues for supporting the bill’s passage.
He said, when established, the commission would address the challenges facing the geopolitical zone and, by extension, the country.
Describing the North West as the food basket of the country, he said the commission, when established, will work towards the restoration of infrastructure destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents and bandits in the region.
He said; “So, if we are serious about ensuring we have food and for food security to be attained in this country, we must provide the necessary infrastructure for all our key sectors to thrive well.
“This commission is needed. I commend you all for supporting this; no one said no. Everybody supported this idea. So, now we are pushing the Bill to the House of Representatives for their approval and then to Mr. President for assent.”
The Senate had earlier in February, passed a bill seeking to establish the South-east Development Commission (SEDC).
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage of the bill during plenary after it was read for the third time and supported by the majority of the senators.
The House of Representatives passed the bill in December 2023.
The bill seeks to establish the commission to manage infrastructural development such as the construction and rehabilitation of roads, houses and other infrastructural damages in the South-eastern region.
The commission will also be empowered to tackle the ecological problems and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in the region.
The commission will receive and manage funds from the allocation of the Federation Account to execute infrastructural projects in the South-east.