House Considers South/East Development Commission as Bill Pass for Second Reading
The debate on whether a development commission should be created for the southeastern zone of the country took center stage during plenary session of the House of Representatives on Thursday, May 16, 2019. Lawmakers from the zone made demand for a development commission which came via a Bill that emanated from the Senate chamber and sent to the House of Reps for concurrence.
Introducing the subject matter at plenary, Hon. Mohammed Mongonu stated the general principles of the Bill which include “to establish Southeast Development Commission to serve as a catalyst to develop the commercial potentials of the Southeast, receive and manage Funds from allocations of the Federation for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and reparation for houses and lost businesses of victims of civil war and any other environmental or developmental challenges and other related mattersâ€. He made a passionate appeal in his lead arguments to lawmakers from other zones to look beyond ethnic and religious sentiments as they considered the merits of what the Bill was seeking to achieve.
Also, Hon. Hassan Salleh informed that he has witnessed the extent of damage caused by gully erosion in the Southeast zone of the country. He added that the percentage given to the zone from the Ecological Fund could never be enough to tackle the menace posed by erosion in that region. He enjoined his colleagues to show leadership examples by viewing the intentions of the Bill as urgent and commendable.
On his own part, Hon. Abdulmumin Jubrin opined that “underdevelopment in any part of the country is under development in allâ€, urged his colleagues to shove sentiments aside and do he needful as elected representatives of the people. Also, he cautioned that those whose sole interest to ensure that the Southeast zone remains underdeveloped by seeking to kill this Bill should beware of the law of retribution.
Other lawmakers mainly from the affected zone took turns to lend support for the speedy passage of the Bill. They stated that nothing can be enough to tackle developmental and environmental challenges including establishing a commission. However, some during the debate posited that instead of granting each zone a development commission, the country might as well be restructured.
The Bill finally scaled second reading on the floor of the House as majority of the lawmakers echoed in affirmative when the question was put for the Bill to be read the second time.