There was consensus among stakeholders on Thursday as the House of Representatives through its Committee on justice considered two Bills for the establishment of additional Development Commissions in the country.
The Bills are for an Act to Establish the South-West Development Commission and a Bill for an Act to Establish the South-South Development Commission.
Prominent among Stakeholders that routed for the Bills at the Public Hearing are the Nigeria South West Governors Forum, Ogun State House of Assembly, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Stakeholders Forum (OMPSTAFOR).
Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) National Chairman and former Military Governor, Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore (rtd) Idongesit Nkanga while supporting tbe ¹Bill for an Act to Establish the South-South Development Commission gave reasons why the establishment of the Economic and Infrastructure Commissions were inevitable.
He noted that other zones in the country are also proposing similar commissions, as at today, the North East Development Commission is in place and functioning, the bill for the establishment of the South West Development Commission has scaled second reading , while bills for the establishment of other Zonal Development Commissions are also in the works at various stages of legislative processes.
On it’s part, the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Stakeholders Forum (OMPSTAFOR) commended the National Assembly for conceptualising the establishment of six DevelopmentThere was consensus of among stakeholders Thursday as the House of Representatives through its Committee on justice considered two Bills for the establishment of additional Development Commissions in the country.
The Bills are for an Act to Establish the South-West Development Commission and a Bill for an Act to Establish the South-South Development Commission.
Prominent among Stakeholders that routed for the Bills at the Public Hearing are the Nigeria South West Governors Forum, Ogun State House of Assembly, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Stakeholders Forum (OMPSTAFOR).
Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) National Chairman and former Military Governor, Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore (rtd) Idongesit Nkanga while supporting tbe ¹Bill for an Act to Establish the South-South Development Commission gave reasons why the establishment of the Economic and Infrastructure Commissions were inevitable.
He noted that other zones in the country are also proposing similar commissions, as at today, the North East Development Commission is in place and functioning, the bill for the establishment of the South West Development Commission has scaled second reading , while bills for the establishment of other Zonal Development Commissions are also in the works at various stages of legislative processes.
On it’s part, the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Stakeholders Forum (OMPSTAFOR) commended the National Assembly for conceptualising the establishment of six Development Commissions which it noted will compliment regional development strategies in Nigeria.
The Chairman South-West Governors’ Forum Rotimi Akeredolu sent the Forum’s support through a member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Mayowa, Akinfolarin (APC, Ondo) and Chairman House Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission.
According to Akeredolu, the forum is in total support of the South-West Development Bill, adding that it would forward it’s memorandum to the committee at a later date.
The Ogun State House of Assembly, represented by a member, Hon (Barr.) Solomon Osho, Chairman , Committee on Justice said the State Legislature was strongly behind the bill for theestablishment of the Commission.
Osho while eulogising the proposed law said it will ensure even distribution of the Nation’s dividends of democracy across board, resuscitate abandoned projects and ensure transparency and accountability in resource management.
The Ogun lawmaker noted that the disbursement of the ecological fund was adequately captured by the bill and it will ensure that the Commission and by extension, the country adequately tackles its ecological challenge, including those encountered in the new frontier climate change.
The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila who was represented by the House Leader Rep.Alhassan Ado-Doguwa described both legislative proposals as instrument of statute to address developmental challenges.
Chairman House Committee on Justice, Rep.Ugonna Ozurigbo observed that the bills divided into 33 sections and 30 clauses, took into consideration the issues of environmental degradation, destruction in ecosystem, ecological issues and infrastructural decay in the zones and attempted to proffer remedial measures among others.
ENDS.
The Chairman South-West Governors’ Forum Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu sent the Forum’s support through a member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Mayowa, Akinfolarin (APC, Ondo) and Chairman House Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission.
According to Akeredolu, the forum is in total support of the South-West Development Bill, adding that it would forward it’s memorandum to the committee at a later date.
The Ogun State House of Assembly, represented by a member, Hon (Barr.) Solomon Osho, Chairman , Committee on Justice said the State Legislature was strongly behind the bill for theestablishment of the Commission.
Osho while eulogising the proposed law said it will ensure even distribution of the Nation’s dividends of democracy across board, resuscitate abandoned projects and ensure transparency and accountability in resource management.
The Ogun lawmaker noted that the disbursement of the ecological fund was adequately captured by the bill and it will ensure that the Commission and by extension, the country adequately tackles its ecological challenge, including those encountered in the new frontier climate change.
The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila who was represented by the House Leader Rep.Alhassan Ado-Doguwa described both legislative proposals as instrument of statute to address developmental challenges.
Chairman House Committee on Justice, Rep.Ugonna Ozurigbo observed that the bills divided into 33 sections and 30 clauses, took into consideration the issues of environmental degradation, destruction in ecosystem, ecological issues and infrastructural decay in the zones and attempted to proffer remedial measures among others.
