Senate suspends debate on a bill seeking to establish SSDC

THE Senate has suspended a bill seeking to establish the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).

It is titled, "A Bill for an Act to Establish the South-South Development Commission charged with the responsibility to receive and manage funds from the Federation Account Allocation and other sources, donations, grants, aids for the integration, development, resolution of infrastructural deficit, militancy, communal crises as well as tackle ecological, environmental problems; and for related matters (SB. 358).

It was sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, APC, Cross River South and was scheduled for second reading.

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio announced suspension of the bill after majority of the Senators voted against it through voice votes.

The lead debate on the general principles of the bill was presented by Senator Benson Agadaga (PDP, Bayelsa East) on behalf of Mr Ekpeyong.

In his presentation, Agadaga explained that the commission will address infrastructural development, loss and damages of climate change in the South-south region.

According to him, the commission will formulate policies for the development and transformation of the South-south ranging from road construction, electricity to agriculture and other sectors, adding that the commission would promote socio-economic development in states across the South-south.

The South-south zone consists of six states including Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers with a total number of 125 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

He said, "permit me to lead the debate on the general principles of the Bill for an Act to establish the South-South Development Commission Charged with the Responsibility to Receive and Manage Funds from the Federation Account Allocation and other Sources, Donations, Grants, Aids for the Integration, Development, Resolution of Infrastructural Deficit, Militancy, Communal Crises as well as Tackle Ecological, Environmental Problems; and for Related Matters.

"This Bill was read for the First Time in this Chamber on Thursday, 22″4 February, 2024.

"The Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of South-South Development Commission to act as a catalyst to address socio-economic issues, climate change crises, environmental degradation and ecological challenges, occasioned by oil exploration in the region, among others. The South-South Geo-Political Zone comprises of the following states, Akwa Ibom; Bayelsa; Cross River; Delta; Edo; and Rivers.

"The main objectives of the Bill, are to: formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the SouthSouth region;  conceive, plan and implement, in accordance with the set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for sustainable development of the South South States in the field of transportation including roads, health, education, employment, agriculture, industrialization, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications;

"Cause the South South States to be surveyed in order to ascertain measures which are necessary to promote its physical and socioeconomic development;

"Prepare master plans and schemes designed to promote the physical development of the South South States and the estimates of the costs of implementing such master plans and schemes;

"Implement all the measures approved for the development of the South South States by the federal Government and the member States of the Commission;

"Identify factors inhibiting the development of the South South States and assist the member States in the formulation and implementation of policies to ensure sound and efficient management of the resources of the South South States;

""Assess and report on any project being funded or carried out in the South South States by mineral extracting and mining companies, oil and gas producing companies, and any other company including nongovernmental organizations and ensure that funds released for such projects are properly utilized;

" Tackle ecological and environmental problems that arise from the extraction and mining of solid minerals, exploration of oil mineral in the South South States and advise the Federal Government and the member States on the prevention and control of oil spillages, gas flaring and environmental pollution, etc.

"The enactment of this Bill will help to reposition the South-South region, which the hub of the Nation's main source of revenue for development in line with the demands of the 21st Century and provide opportunity for engagements of the youths to check issues of restiveness in the region. "

Majority of the senators who contributed to the bill against establishment of the commission.

On his part, Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central) who argued that the establishment of the South-south commission would be a duplicate of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), submitted that Ekpeyong could have come with a bill to amend the NDDC Act rather than seeking to establish a new commission.

He asked members of the upper chamber to reject the bill.

Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central advised that the bill should be stepped down because it shares the same functions with the NDDC.

After the contributions, the senate president put the passage to vote and the majority of the senators against it through voice votes.

Akpabio subsequently announced that the bill should be stepped down for further consideration.

Recall that the NDDC was established to intervene on issues and development in the Niger Delta areas.

The North-east Development Commission (NEDC) was established following the devastation of the north-east by Boko Haram insurgents.

The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) was also passed in the senate in February.

The North-west Development Commission (NWDC) bill was passed in the senate in May

The Senate passed a bill seeking to establish the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) last week.