June 22, (THEWILL)- The Senate, at its plenary session on Tuesday, passed for second reading, the Bill seeking to establish a Solid Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission.
The proposed agency, when established, according to the Bill sponsored by Senator Yakubu Oseni (Kogi Central), has the objective of formulating policies and guidelines for the development of the solid mineral-producing areas in the country.
Other objectives of the Bill, according to Oseni in his lead debate, include: “Conception, planning and implementation, in accordance with set rules of projects and programmes for sustainable development of the minerals producing areas in the field of transportation including roads, health, employment, industrialization, agriculture and fisheries, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications.
“Surveying the minerals producing areas in order to ascertain measures necessary to promote its physical and socio-economic development.
“Preparing master plans and schemes designed to promote the physical development of the minerals producing areas as the estimation of the member states of the commission; and..
“Implementation of all the measures approved for the development of the minerals producing areas by the Federal Government and member states of the Commission.”
Oseni said, “Contemplated overhead costs, recurrent and capital expenditure of the Commission, when established is N158,042,050.32.”
Senators in their contribution supported the Bill and approved that the Bill be read for a second time when put to a voice vote by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
Lawan thereafter referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals chaired by Senator Tanko Al-Makura for further legislative work and to report back to the plenary in four weeks.
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