Senate Works On Establishment Of South East Development Commission

The Senate has gone far in its attempt at establishing the South East Development Commission (SEDC).

A bill, sponsored by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and co-sponsored by Senator Stella Oduah for the Commission scaled through second reading today, Thursday, on the floor of the senate.

The bill was subsequently referred to the relevant committee of the senate for further legislative action.

Below are details of the bill.

LEAD DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF A BILL FOR AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH EAST DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THERETO 2016.

Sponsor: Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu, Imo East

Introduction / Background

Mr. President and my Distinguished colleagues I stand to lead debate for the Second Reading of the “Bill For An Act To Establish The South East Development Commission (SEDC) and for other matters connected therewith. This Bill was read the First Time on the 22nd of June, 2016.

The Explanatory Memorandum:

“This Bill seeks to Establish South-East Development Commission charged with the responsibility among other things, for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and re-positioning of the region for the development of the economic potentials needed to stimulate industrial growth and resource diversification; also to address the dearth of infrastructure and other related environmental issues posing a big challenge to the development of the South East States”

The bill is divided into six (6) parts and has thirty (30) sections, one schedule therewith;

1. This bill is seeking to establish a Development Commission for the South East geo-political zone to rehabilitate and construct roads to ameliorate the devastating effect of soil erosion and other environmental or developmental challenges in the region made up of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
2. To identify and promote programmes that will enhance the development of boundless entrepreneurial capacities, technical skills, technological innovativeness and managerial competences for our economic advancement.
3. To give necessary attention and support needed to harness the abundant economic and ingenuous entrepreneurial potentials of the region, and to the development of the manufacturing and industrial activities capable of transforming the Nigerian economy and leading the way to a strategic domestic economic growth.
4. Retrospectively, the South East is ravaged by erosion and environmental degradation triggered mostly by the chemical impact of the civil war which rendered most of the arable lands devastated and unproductive in terms of agricultural yields. No remediation has been carried out till now.

Mr. President and distinguished colleagues it is incontrovertible that the Micro, Small and Medium scale enterprises are significant to the growth, productivity and competitiveness of any economy, this is one area the South East manifests strength and comparative advantage but lack the necessary encouragement and support to enhance their growth and maximize their full potentials to compete with countries like China and Brazil. Again, diversification is paramount in taking the nation out of a monolithic economy and the South East is strategically positioned to play this role with the passage of this bill.

Summary Of The Provisions Of The Bill:

Mr. Senate President and colleagues the bill provides as follows:

Headquarters- Section 1(3) provides the location of the headquarters in Enugu which  has served as the political capital of the South East geo-political zone.

Membership -The membership of the commission is provided for under section 2(1) (a) (b) (1) –(IV) & (c), 2 (a) (b) (c) & (d) and drawn from the composing states of the zone and other interest groups.

Tenure And Rotation Of Office Of Chairman – Section (3) & (4) provides for the rotation of the office of the chairman respectively.

Also Part 1 of the bill contains mode of resignation, cessation or removal of the office from membership of the board, and remuneration and allowances.

PART II – Deals with functions and powers of the Commission etc.

PART III – Deals with the structure of the Commission

PART IV- Deals with the staff of the Commission

PART V- Deals with the Funding of the Commission and General Financial Provision.

Justification For The Bill;

1. The Bill if passed will address the issues contained in the early part of this lead debate and the provisions of the Bill viz: PART II sections 7 & 8.
2. It will also promote FGN’s development of zones that have been affected/ ravaged by war, terrorism, hunger, degradation like the North-East zone of Nigeria
3. The South-East zone historically stands out as the first zone to suffer innumerable losses as a result of military action arising from civil war and a truncated policy of the famous 3Rs.
4. It therefore follows that the Bill will now revive the 3Rs and ensure the implementation of that laudable policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria in respect of the South East zone to address the issues of physical and human devastation which still persist.
5. The passage of this Bill will not impact negatively on the other geo-political zones but rather support the re-visitation of the need to address the issues raised by this Bill which all zones of Nigerian State have argued positively in support.
6. The passage of this Bill will be critical in addressing the Biafran agitation for marginalisation through an integrative development plan that will promote and strengthen the sense of nationalism.
7. A thriving and strong economy in the South East consequent upon the tackling of their problems will definitely lead to improved revenue streams into the Federation Account in terms of taxes and other Non-Oil revenue sources.
8. A precedent has been set with the passage of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Bill which in all ramifications represents and reminds us of the experience of the South East zone which was first in time.

Conclusion And Prayer

In conclusion, Mr. President of the Senate and Distinguished colleagues I strongly urge and seek your support for the passage of this Bill based upon the arguments rendered thereof and the deserving benefits to the zone in particular and the country in general. [myad]