Senate rejects bill to establish South-South Development Commission

The Senate, on Thursday, unanimously rejected a bill seeking to establish a South-South Development Commission.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River-South), aims to set up a commission to manage funds and address infrastructure, militancy and environmental issues in the South-South region.

However, the bill has faced stiff opposition from senators from the northern region, led by Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi-Central) and Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi-Central), who argued that the proposed commission would duplicate the functions of the existing Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

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Aliero, a former governor of Kebbi State, criticized the bill as unnecessary and potentially embarrassing to the Senate. He noted that the South-South region already has fully funded government agencies and ministries overseeing development, making the proposed commission irrelevant.

Sensing the backlash, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for a vote to withdraw the bill, which was unanimously approved by senators. The rejection of the bill highlights the ongoing debate over regional development and resource management in Nigeria.

Senate rejects bill establishing South-South Development Commission first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.