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The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has commended the Senate for the passage of the Bill seeking the establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC).
The legislation, sponsored by Kalu, was unanimously passed by the Senate on Thursday after the consideration and adoption of a Conference Committee report on the Bill by the Senate Committee of the Whole, chaired by Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio.
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Having been passed by the House of Representatives on December 21, 2023, the Bill was sent to the Senate for concurrence.
In response to this development, Deputy Speaker Kalu expressed his appreciation for the Senate’s action, emphasizing that the establishment of the SEDC, when the Bill is enacted into law and assented to by President Bola Ahmed Bola, will contribute to the reconstruction of the South-East region, which was severely affected by the civil war.
Kalu highlighted the timeliness of the Bill, aligning with the efforts of National Assembly members from the South-East region, who are championing the Peace in South-East Project (PISE-P), a non-political movement advocating a non-kinetic approach to resolving security challenges in the region.
Anticipating positive impacts on jobs, businesses, and infrastructural development once the commission is established, Kalu expressed optimism that President Tinubu would assent to the Bill, urging Nigerians to continue supporting the government.
He outlined the key roles of the proposed commission, including conceiving, planning, and implementing projects and programs for the sustainable development of the South-East States across various sectors, such as transportation, health, education, employment, agriculture, industrialization, housing, urban development, water supply, electricity, and telecommunications.
The commission is also expected to address ecological and environmental issues arising from mining activities and advise on pollution prevention and control measures.
Kalu concluded by emphasizing the importance of the SEDC in promoting the physical and socio-economic development of the South-East States and its people.
