The Nigerian Senate has passed the South West Development Commission Bill into law, establishing a commission aimed at driving socio-economic growth in the region.
The bill’s passage on Thursday followed a report presented by Senator Shehu Lawa Kaka, representing Borno Central Senatorial District, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Special Duties. According to Senator Kaka, the proposed commission will focus on addressing infrastructural deficits and ecological challenges in the South West region, similar to other regional development commissions in Nigeria.
“If the Commission is established through presidential assent to the bill, it will, like other development-driven commissions, receive funds from the federation account and donations from development partners to address these issues,” Kaka said.
Following the presentation of the report, the Senate moved to a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill before its final passage. It was read for the third time and approved.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, praised Senator Kaka and his committee for their efforts. He expressed optimism that the new South West Development Commission would help tackle the region’s infrastructural and ecological challenges.
“The essence of the various development commissions being set up is to fast-track the development of the entire country. President Bola Tinubu has assented to similar bills for zonal development-driven interventions and will surely assent to this one as well,” Jibrin said.
The bill now awaits the President’s signature to officially establish the commission.
