BREAKING: Senate passes South East Development Commission Bill

The Senate Wednesday passed the South East Development Commission
(Establishment) Bill 2018.

The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural
development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge
ecological challenges.

It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the
commercial potential of the zone.

The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of
Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the
president's assent to become a law.

Senators Stall Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo)
jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate 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, Sen. Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the
Senate.

The bill, after Paulker's presentation, was considered clause by
clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the
lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.

In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike
Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.

In his words, "Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace
to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this
country.

"I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity
of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this
country.

"This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress," he said.

Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the
Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their
colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.

Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to
sign the bill into law "as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in
the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria".

"This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and
the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that
started at the end of the civil war.

"All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which
is what we have done," he said.

The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give
concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.

When established, the South East Development Commission would be the
third zonal interventionist body in the country.