South East Development Commission Bill, matters arising- NAN

When the South East Development Commission Bill (SEDC) was recently presented before the House of Representatives, it brought a glimmer of hope to the people of the region, who, over the years, feel marginalised and short-changed in the scheme of things.

They believed that the perceived marginalisation of the region and its attendant agitation and unrest would be addressed if the Bill was passed.

Regrettably, the Bill, which was intended to harness the potential of the South East, was thrown out in the lower house.

Nonetheless, the Bill, being a well-meaning piece, resurfaced in the Senate six days after it was rejected in the House of Representatives.

The Bill, which was co-sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee Cooperation and Integration, Stella Oduah (PDP, Anambra North), passed through First Reading in June 2017 and scaled through Second Reading in July.

When passed and signed into law, the bill is expected to provide roadmap for development of roads, education, health facilities, industrialisation, agriculture, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and commerce in the five member states of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.

More so, the commission will provide policies and guidelines for the development of the South East, conception of plans for development in accordance with set rule as well as produce regulations, programmes and projects for sustainable development of the region.

Also, it is expected to provide master plan for reduction of unemployment while also providing the master plan and schemes to promote the physical development of the South East.

Another content of the bill include: tackling ecological and environmental problems that arise from soil erosion problems and other related environmental challenges in the South-East and advise the Federal Government and member states on the prevention and control of the erosion and environmental challenges.

It will also identify factors inhibiting the development of the South-East and assist member states on the formulation and implementation of policies to ensure sound and efficient management of the resources of the region.

The bill also indicates that the management board of the commission shall consist of the chairman and one representative each from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States as well as representatives of Federal Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice.

According to the proposal, a member of the board of the commission shall hold office for four years and can have his appointment renewed for another four years.

Section 1(4) of the bill provides the leeway for the Commission to only exist for 10 years after which the President can wind it up by seeking the approval of the National Assembly.

The Section reads: “The President may subject to the approval of the National Assembly wind-up the Commission after 10 years.”

In her lead debate, Sen. Oduah submitted that the Bill sought to address the infrastructural deficit of the South East and act as a catalyst to develop the commercial potentials of the region.

Oduah, who recently said that the South eastern part of the country required a minimum of three container ports to boost the economic growth of the country, regretted that the region had contributed immensely of to the overall of Nigeria yet the Federal Government was not doing enough for the region.

“ What the region requires now from the rest of the country is support and understanding and this will help to engender a sense of belonging to the Nigeria project.

“The Senate is in the right position to show maturity in the face of the plethora of problems and challenges facing the geopolitical zone.

“Nigeria has abundant capacity to beam a sympathetic focus to begin to address these issues in a more holistic and systematic manner.

“ The public works projects to be executed by this Commission will engage the youths in a more serious fashion and help to develop needed human capital in both the public and private sectors.

“This will also curb the cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities that create a security situation not conducive for growth and development. The peaceful co-existence of the Nigerian state will be enhanced with the establishment of the Commission,” she said.