February 22, (THEWILL) – The Senate, on Thursday, passed a Bill which seeks to establish the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
The SEDC is charged with the responsibility to receive and manage funds from the allocation of the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the region as a result of the effect of the civil war.
The Red Chamber decided a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill by the Committee of the Whole, chaired by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Recall that the House of Representatives on December 21, 2023, at its Committee of the Whole chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who is also the sponsor of the Bill, unanimously passed it for 3rd reading and sent it to the Senate for concurrence.
The Senate approved the long title of the Bill as recommended, clause 2 as amended, clauses 3 to 5 as recommended, clause 6 as amended, clauses 7 to 29 as recommended, interpretation clause 30 as recommended, short title clause 31 as recommended, schedules 1 and explanatory memorandum as recommended.
The Commission, when established, shall among other functions, “Conceive, plan and implement, following the set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the South East States in the field of transportation including roads, health, education, employment, agriculture, industrialisation, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications; cause the South East States to be surveyed to ascertain measures which are necessary to promote its physical and socio-economic development.
“Implement all the measures approved for the development of the Southeast States by the Federal Government and the member States of the Commission; identify factors inhibiting the development of the Southeast States and assist the member States in the formulation and implementation of policies to ensure sound and efficient management of the resources of the South East States; assess and report on any project being funded or carried out in the Southeast States by mineral extracting and mining companies, oil and gas producing companies, and any other company including non-governmental organisations and ensure that funds released for such projects are properly utilised.
“Tackle ecological and environmental problems that arise from the extraction and mining of solid mineral, exploration of oil mineral in the Southeast states and advise the Federal Government and the member States on the prevention and control of oil spillages, gas flaring and environmental pollution; liaise with the various solid mineral extraction and mining companies and oil and gas prospecting and producing companies on all matters of pollution prevention and control; and execute such other works and perform such other functions which in the opinion of the Commission are required for the sustainable development of the South-East States and its peoples.”
