Emma Ovuakporie
A bill seeking for the establishment of South-South Development Commission on Wednesday was passed by the House of Representatives into second reading.
The Bill if passed into law would aid speedy rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure in the oil producing region of Nigeria.
The Commission would be 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 crisis as well as tackle ecological, environmental and other related matters.
The promoter of the bill, Hon Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers) said it was expedient to conclude that the existing Niger Delta Development Commission was not created for the South-South States, but for all the oil producing States, irrespective of the Region.
According to him, Mr. Speaker, my Distinguish Honourable Colleagues, in view of the foregoing and the need for rapid and equitable development of all the Regions in the Country, there is a need for the establishment of the South-South Development Commission to ensure the development of the South-South.
Additionally, “the South-South Development Commission is to serve as a springboard for the engagement, integration and development of the SouthSouth region as well as resolve issues of infrastructural deficit, militancy, communal crises as well as the ecological problems and (any) other related environmental or developmental challenges in the region”.
Abiante referred to the fact that, in 1993, the regime of Late General Sani Abacha created six (6) geopolitical zones with the aim amongst others of enhancing equal distribution of the Nation’s economic, political and educational resources. ” In 1993, the regime under the late General Sani Abacha created geopolitical zones for equitable distribution of the nation’s wealth.
He deserves commendation for this welI-thought idea that was tailored towards bringing development to every part of the Country especially given the peculiarity and diverse nature of the country with greater affinity in the regional structure thereby having very workable solutions.
Speaking on the importance of the commission, when there’s already the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in place, the lawmaker said the South-South commission would focus on the development of the region solely unlike NDDC which caters for oil producing States.
“It is instructive to point out that the Niger Delta Development Commission created by the former President Olusegun Obasinjo merely replaced Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC). And it was for the development of oil producing States or better still communities which includes States in the South-East (Abia, Imo) and South-West (Ondo) and Lagos respectively.
“It is also worthy of note that the North-East Development Commission is in place and functioning, a bill for the establishment of South-West Development Commission has scaled second reading while the bills for the establishment of zonal development commissions are also in the works at various stages”.
He further explained that the bill would not gulp as much funds as anticipated.
“Mr speaker, the financial cost and implications of establishing a South-South Development Commission may not necessarily add up financial burden on the Federal Government.
“The Bill when passed will go a long way in ensuring speedy rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure in the South-South region thus enhancing the quality of life in the area in particular and Nigeria in general.
I respectfully urge you all to support the Bill in the spirit of social justice, equity and national integration”, he solicited.
The bill was passed when the presiding officer, Femi Gbajabiamila put the question to vote and referred it to the Committee on Justice for further legislative business.