ABUJA – Senate yesterday, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his speedy assent to the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Bill recently passed by the National Assembly.
They also requested that adequate provisions be made in the 2018 Budget, to fund the Commission.
This followed a motion moved by Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan during plenary on the assent of the NEDC Bill.
The Senate described the commission as a direct response by this administration to address widespread devastation inflicted on the zone by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents which has been around for past 8 years.
Sen. Lawan explained that the commission will provide an institutional framework that will ensure transparency, accountability and prudent management of funds that will build the confidence of Donor Agencies and Foundations towards assisting and funding projects.
He added that the commission will end the huge humanitarian crisis in the North East that no other committee or institution could have handled within the short and long term.
The Bill for the establishment of the commission received President Buhari’s assent on Thursday, 26th October 2017.
The Commission will among other things receive and manage funds allocated by the Federal Government and International donor agencies for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency and tackle the menace of poverty and environmental challenges of the area.
It is also expected to coordinate projects and programmes within the master plan for the rehabilitation, resettlement , reconciliation, reconstruction and sustainable development of the North East Zone in the fields of infrastructure, human and social services, including health and nutrition, education and water supply, agriculture, wealth creation and employment opportunities, urban development and poverty alleviation etc.
Senators in their contributions during debate on the motion including Shehu Sani and James Manager however advised that the commission focus on the basic essence of the bill, which is primarily to address the issue of poverty and the degrading lifestyle in zone.
Presiding Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu described the Bill as a major contribution to the development of the North East.
He also thanked the military for providing the enabling environment for the take off of the commission.
Ekweremadu noted that the action of the senate in ensuring swift passage of the Bill indicates that it is a united senate mindful of the concerns of Nigerians.
