The Senate has passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018. The proposed body is to tackle the infrastructure deficit and ecological challenges besetting the region. It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The piece of legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives for onward transmission to the president for his assent. Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill on June 22, 2016. Its passage in the red chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former chairman, Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa).
The bill was subsequently considered clause by clause by the committee of whole where amendments were made before its eventual passage. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over yesterday’s plenary, commended his colleagues for their efforts. Read more