The Senate yesterday initiated amendments to the North West and South East Development Commission Acts concerning the zoning of managing directors and chairmen of the commissions.
Concurrently, it advanced the South-South Development Commission bill for second reading.
During the discussions on the amendment bills, Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, highlighted that the proposed changes to the North West Development Commission Act, 2024, aim to ensure geopolitical representation on the Commission’s Governing Board.
He emphasized that the amendments would address existing gaps related to the appointments of the chairman and managing director, stipulating that both positions cannot be filled by individuals from the same state within the zone.
Additionally, these appointments would require Senate confirmation, as mandated by the Nigerian Constitution.
“For effective representation and adherence to the principles of Federal Character, it is essential to extend the Commission’s membership to other geopolitical zones in accordance with relevant laws governing Federal Commissions,” he stated.
Senator Bamidele provided similar justifications for the amendments concerning the Southeast Development Commission Acts.
Following the second reading of the amendment bills, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, remarked on the necessity of these changes for the efficient operation of the commissions across various zones.
In another development during the Thursday session, the Senate also moved forward with the South-South Development Commission bill, which had previously faced opposition.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South), along with Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), presented compelling arguments that garnered support from Senators across different parties and geopolitical regions.
Senator Dickson explained that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is often mistaken for a zonal development commission; it is actually a resource-based entity that serves the broader South-South region.
He articulated that the NDDC’s primary purpose is to address environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the oil-producing states and to accelerate their development.
“The areas covered by the NDDC span the South-South, South-East, and South-West, distinguishing it from zonal commissions like the proposed South-South Commission,” he noted.
Encouraged by the strong backing for the proposed commission from his colleagues, President Akpabio referred the legislative proposal to the Senate Committee on Special Duties, with a request for a report within one week.