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Tag: South-South Development Commission

  • Rep Abiante lauds Tinubu for signing SSDC bill into law

    Rep Abiante lauds Tinubu for signing SSDC bill into law

    The member representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal constituency of Rivers State in the 10th House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) Bill into law.

    The lawmaker who was also the lead sponsor of the Bill made the commendation while speaking to journalists on Wednesday.

    He said their consistent efforts since the 9th Assembly has paid off.

    He said: “So mine is on behalf of everyone who supported this idea from the 9th Assembly to the 10th Assembly up to this point that it has materialized. I want to say thank you to Mr. President. This journey started from the 9th Assembly. I want to thank all members of the 9th Assembly who were part of the sponsorship of this bill.

    “It actually was passed in the 9th Assembly on the 16th of November 2021 and we couldn’t have concurrence from the Senate and so it was not even presented to Mr. President for assent.

    “In the 10th Assembly, the journey started again. Of course, I have always been the lead sponsor of this very project. From 25th of July 2023, immediately we resumed. We brought it back as a bill from the previous Parliament. It went through all the processes and on the 16th of July 2024, it was passed by the House of Representatives and now forwarded to the Senate for concurrence.

    “The Senate version was also available as sponsored by Senator Ekpenyong. So by the time both houses passed their various versions, the conference committee had to clear that and eventually it’s been taken to Mr. President and he has signed it into law”.

    Rep. Abiente however noted that the Commission needs competent persons to steer its affairs in order to discharge its responsibilities in the region bedevilled by various environmental and socio-economic challenges for decades.

    He added, “Going from experiences from similar agencies, Mr. President should look out for men and women of impeccable character to drive the process because there are lots of deficits relative to infrastructure development and several other areas of engagement in the South-South region. So if this is done, we are very confident that the President must have written his name in gold”.

    The lawmaker further informed that, there is a clear distinction between the South-South as it is and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which had been passed before.

    According to him, unlike the NDDC, the South-South Development Commission is a Commission that cover the six states in the South-South region adding that, other regions also have their development commissions approved by the President after their bills were passed by the Parliament.

    “The sharp distinction between the Niger Delta Development Commission and the South-South Development Commission borders on the geography.

    “For the NDDC, you have states in the South-West. All those states from the South-West is a member of the NDDC. And Imo, as well as other states from the South-East, are also members of the Niger Delta Development Commission. And they also have their own independent regional commissions. And the NDDC caters essentially for states within the area called Niger Delta, probably with a little emphasis on the areas where you have been able to find and explore oil as of today.

    “Similar to what has come to play, which is the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC).You have HYPPADEC because of the areas that are producing or generating electricity from hydro. And there is also this push to have a development commission for areas where you have abundance of solid minerals. So if we have to situate and balance all this, there does not seem to be any duplication.

    “The NDDC is there to cater for the interests of the entire Niger Delta environment, irrespective of which of the geopolitical zones that you come from. But this is specific, just like you have the North-East Development, you have the North-West Development, North-Central Development, and it has guaranteed that none has been excluded.

    “Don’t forget, even before we started talking about all these development commissions, there used to be the very popular OMPADEC, Oil, Minerals, Producing Area Development Commission. Before that was the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority. So it’s nothing from the blues. It’s been one with a trajectory, with a history, and with specifics in terms of what it ought to achieve.

    “The area is grossly challenged. When I say grossly challenged, I’m not talking about the various state capitals. You can just walk around and you find roads. I’m not sure of any of the state capitals that I even know where you can guarantee public supply of potable water. I don’t think that it’s already working in Port Harcourt. I don’t know if it’s working in Oyo. I’m not sure they’ve gotten it completely.

    “So there are lots of deficits relative to infrastructure. And without this infrastructure, you cannot drive the economy of the area. There are several communities outside, even within the capital cities, they cannot guarantee for themselves power supply for 24 hours. And without power, you cannot achieve industrialization,” he said.

  • Senate makes U-turn passes South-South Devt Commission Bill for second reading

    Senate makes U-turn passes South-South Devt Commission Bill for second reading

    The Senate on Thursday made a U-turn and passed for second reading a Bill which seeks to establish a South-South Development Commission.

    The passage of the Bill came a few months after the red chamber kicked against it.

    The bill was titled: “A Bill for an Act to Establish South-South Development Commission charged with the responsibility to receive and manage funds from the Federation Account Allocation and other sources, donations, grants, aids for the integration, development, resolution of infrastructural deficit, militancy, communal crises as well as tackle ecological, environmental problems; and for related matters, 2024” was sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC – Cross River South).

    The Bill was co-sponsored by all Senators from the South South Region including

    Senators Godswill Akpabio, Sampson Ekong Akpan, Etim Aniekan Bassey, Sunday Benson Agadaga and Konbowei Friday Benson.

    Others are: Henry Seriake Dickson, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Eteng Jonah Williams, Ede Dafinone, Thomas Joel-Onowakpo, Munir Chinedu Nwoko,

    Neda Imasuen, Monday Okpebholo, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, Heacho Allwell Onyesoh, Ipalibo Harry Banigo and Barinada Barry Mpigi.

    Following a strong argument put forward by the sponsor of the Bill, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC – Cross River South) and Senator  Seriake Dickson (PDP Bayelsa West) during debate on the bill, Senators across party lines and geo-political zones supported the Bill.

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    Ekpenyong in his lead debate, said: “Now, some may ask, Isn’t the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) already fulfilling these functions? Mr. President, Distinguished colleagues, I will provide some explanations for why the proposed South-South Development Commission is distinct and necessary.

    “The NDDC is a multi regional body that includes states such as Abia and Imo from the South-East Region, and Ondo State from the South-West Region. However, both of these regions now have their own dedicated development commissions-the South-East Development Commission which includes Abia and Imo, and the South-West Development Commission which includes Ondo.

    “This arrangement has diluted the focus and resources of the NDDC, making it less effective in addressing the peculiar challenges of the South-South. We need a commission that is exclusively dedicated to our region, that understands our unique issues, and can craft tailored solutionsfor them.

    “Another distinction lies in the way funds are allocated. The NDDC allocates resources to member states based on the quantum of oil production in each state. While oil production remains crucial, it has led to unequal development, where states with higher oil output rightly receive a disproportionate share of resources, leaving others behind.

    “The South-South Development Commission will be funded on the principle of equality among the member states, ensuring that every state – whether a top oil producer or not-receives its fair share of resources for development. 

    “This new funding structure will focus on regional development, not just oil revenue, and will include other streams of funding such as federal allocations, international grants, and developmental partnerships.

    “While the NDDC addresses the Niger Delta oil producing region in a broad sense, the South-South Development Commission will hone in on the specific developmental, economic, and ecological challenges facing the South South.

    “This tailored focus will enhance the ability of the commission to deliver timely and effective solutions.

    “It is clear that the current developmental apparatus for the South-South is insufficient to meet the needs of our people. We cannot continue to rely solely on the NDDC. 

    “The creation of the South-South Development Commission will provide a dedicated, well-funded body that is uniquely positioned to drive equitable and sustainable development, resolve ecological problems, and address the root causes of conflict in our region. 

    “I therefore urge you, to lend your support to this bill and give the people of the South-South the hope and development they deserve.”

    Senator Dickson in his contribution to the Bill, said that the NDDC, now being mistaken to be in the mold of zonal development commissions, is a resource based agency, that cut across the South-South geo-political zone.

    Dickson said: “NDDC is a resource based commission meant to mitigate against environmental degradation caused by oil exploration across the oil producing state  and fast-track development in the region. 

    “The States covered by NDDC cuts across South-South, South-East and South West, unlike zonal based commissions which the proposed South-South Commission, falls under.”

    Senators Barau Jibrin, Ede Dafinone, Sunday Karimi, among others supported the Bill. 

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau, who also supported the bill, canvassed a name-change for the NDDC to capture every community that produces oil in the country.

    He argued that with the coming of the SSDC, the NDDC should undergo a name-change from being an agency for Niger Delta affairs to either an oil-bearing or a resources-bearing development commission.

    Barau explained that in this way, states that produce oil but are outside the Niger Delta, will automatically become members of the NDDC.

    He cited Gombe, Bauchi, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun and others as states that have oil deposits and should be part of the NDDC in the future after the Act would have been amended.

    “That means we have to look at the NDDC’s Act and change the name to oil bearing or producing areas development commission.

    “When we have a community or state that has oil any time in the future, they are automatic members”, Barau said.

    President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, agreed with Barau, saying, “That any state that produces oil in commercial quantities in the future will automatically be part of the NDDC. That is what we have to look at also.”

    He later referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Special Duties for further legislative work and to report back within one week.

    The Red Chamber also amended Northwest and South East Development Commission Acts over positions of Managing Directors and Chairmen.

    In his separate lead debate  on the amendment to the NWDC and SEDC Acts amendment bills,  the leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said amendment on the North West Development Commission Act, 2024, seeks to provide for geo – political representation in the Governing Board of the Commission.

    He said the amendment bill also seeks to reconcile the lacuna that exists in the provisions relating to the appointments of the Chairman and the Managing Director of the commission by ensuring that the two are not appointed from the same state of the zone , as well as subject the appointments to the confirmation of the Senate in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria .

    For  effective representation, and in line with the principles of Federal Character, it is imperative that membership of the commission be extended to other geo – political zones of the country which would be in tandem with extant Acts, relating to the establishment of Federal Commissions “, he said .

    The leader gave similar reasons in his lead debate for amendment of the South East Development Commission Acts.

    In his remarks after passing the amendments bill for second reading, Akpabio said the proposed amendments to the Acts, were very necessary for smooth running of the commissions across the zones.