After reviewing a report from its Committee on Special Duties, the Senate on Thursday authorized the creation of the South West Development Commission.
The South West Development Commission Bill, 2024 was introduced by committee chairman Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (APC Borno Central), and then it was approved for a third reading by the Senate in plenary.
During his presentation, Kaka stated that the goals and objectives of the bill are effectively organized to support the socioeconomic advancement of the South West.
“If the Commission is established through presidential assent to the bill, it will, like other development-driven commissions established on zonal basis, receives funds from the Federation Account, donations from development partners etc to address infrastructural deficits and tackle ecological problems in the region,” he said.
As a result, the Senate proceeded to review the bill in Committee of the Whole, reading it aloud three times before discussing each clause in turn.
The Senate’s Deputy President, Senator Jibrin Barau, who chaired the meeting, praised the Kaka-led committee for a job well done in his remarks following the bill’s passing.
He claimed that the South West Development Commission, like other recently formed commissions, will deal with the region’s ecological and infrastructure problems.
“The essence of the various development commissions being set up is to fast track development of the entire country.
“President Bola Tinubu has assented to similar bills passed for zonal development-driven interventions and will surely assent to this one,” he said.
