The Senate has passed the South West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 for third reading.
This followed the presentation of a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, during plenary on Thursday.
Senator Kaka, explaining the importance of the bill said it is designed to foster the socio-economic development of the region.
He argued that “If the Commission is established through presidential assent, it will, like other zonal development commissions, receive funds from the federation account, donations from development partners, and other sources. These will be used to address infrastructural deficits and tackle ecological challenges in the region.”
The Senate after the presentation moved into the Committee of the Whole for a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.
The bill eventually was passed for third reading after consideration.
In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, commended the committee led by Senator Kaka for their efforts.
He noted that the South West Development Commission, like similar commissions recently established, would address both infrastructural and ecological challenges in the region.