From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
The establishment of a South South Development Commission failed to materialise at the Senate on Thursday as the Senators suspended debates on the Bill.
Lawmakers who opposed the bill expressed that the bill will subject the Upper Chambers to public ridicule due to the existence of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which is already fulfilling the objectives outlined in the proposed bill.
Asuquo Ekpenyong, senator representing Cross River south, sponsored the bill. However, Benson Agadaga, senator representing Bayelsa east, led the debate in Ekpenyong’s absence.
Agadaga said the bill sought to establish a commission to tackle issues confronting the geopolitical zone.
“To address socio-economic issues, climate change, environmental degradation, ecological challenges occasioned by oil exploration in the region, among others,” he said.
“The south-south geopolitical zone comprises the following states: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo and Rivers state.”
However, senators disagreed with the Bill.
Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central, said the bill is a duplication, because the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) already takes care of the objectives of the legislation.
“I see it as a duplication and overlapping functions. It would have been better if he came with an amendment to the Niger Delta Development Commission,” Aliero said.
Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, advised that the bill should be stood down for more legislative work.
“When you check the NDDC law and try to compare it with the laws here, they are the same,” Ningi said.
“It is important that this bill is stood down for further consultation. I don’t want some of us to leave here with the impression that we are against the Niger Delta.
it would have been better if the sponsor of the bill sponsored an amendment to the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“I see no reason why we should support the second reading of this bill , it will amount to making the National Assembly a laughing stock.
“It should be stood down for consultation, so that we can come up with an amendment for this.”
Thereafter, consideration of the bill was stood down after it was put to a voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Recall that recently bills to establish the North Central Development Commission and the North West Development Commission sailed through at the Senate.