The Senate on Thursday, September 26, passed for third reading a Bill which seeks to establish the South West Development Commission (SWDC).
The passage of the bill by the red chamber followed its consideration of a report on the Bill by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan.
Senator Kaka in his presentation said the intents and purposes of the bill are geared towards the socio-economic development of the South West region.
Kaka said: “If the Commission is established through presidential assent to the bill, it will like other development commissions established on zonal basis, receive funds from the federation account, donations from development partners etc, to address infrastructural deficits and tackle ecological problems in the South West region.”
In his remarks after the passage of the bill, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin who presided over plenary, commended the Senator Kaka-led committee for a job well done.
According to the DSP, the South West Development Commission like other similar intervention bodies in the country, will address the infrastructural and ecological challenges in the South West.
“The essence of the various development commissions being set up, is to fast track development of the entire country.
“President Bola Tinubu has assented to similar bills passed for zonal development interventions and will surely assent to this Bill,” he said.
Presently zonal development commissions include the Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, North East Development Commission and South East Development Commission.
The Bill seeking the establishment of a North Central Development Commission is currently pending before the Senate.