The Senate has approved the establishment of the South West Development Commission after passing the bill for its third reading during Thursday’s plenary session.
The passage of the South West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2024 followed a report submitted by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties.
Presenting the report, Senator Kaka explained that the bill aims to promote socio-economic development in the South West region. He emphasized that once established, the commission will receive funding from the Federation Account and donations from development partners to address key issues, including infrastructural deficits and ecological challenges within the region.
“If the commission is established through presidential assent to the bill, it will, like other development-driven commissions set up on zonal bases, receive funds and donations to tackle various infrastructural and ecological problems in the South West,” Kaka stated.
Following a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill in the committee of the whole, it was read for the third time and approved by the Senate.
In his closing remarks, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, praised Senator Kaka and the committee for their efforts in preparing the report. He expressed optimism that the South West Development Commission, once established, would help address the pressing infrastructural and ecological needs of the region.
“The essence of these various development commissions is to fast-track development across the entire country. President Bola Tinubu has already assented to similar bills for zonal development interventions, and I believe he will surely assent to this one as well,” Senator Jibrin said.
The establishment of the South West Development Commission is expected to align with other recently established zonal development commissions, aiming to enhance regional development and close infrastructural gaps across Nigeria.
