By Paul Musa
The Nigerian Senate has received and read for the first time a bill seeking for the establishment of North Central Development Commission (NCDC).
The bill being sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Services Committee, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, All Progressives Congress, APC, Niger East was introduced and read on the floor of the senate on Tuesday.
NCDC, according to its sponsor, would shoulder the responsibilities of managing and administering funds received from the federation account and tackle the underdevelopment in the region.
The bill also seeks to put to an end the disagreement over the number of state comprising the North Central geo-political zone
The Bill, entitled, “North Central Development Commission( Est, etc) Bill, 2019( SB.173), was in line with legislative proceedings, introduced by the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, APC, Kebbi North and affirmed by the Clerk of the Senate, Nelson Ayewor.
The bill is coming on the heels of the passage of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), which establishment bill received presidential assent in October, 2017 and the introduction of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) during proceedings last week.
SEDC is being sponsored by Senator Stella Oduah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Anambra North.
Similarly, former governor of Ogun State and senator representing Ogun Central, Senator Ibikunle Amosun had equally introduced the South West Development Commission Bill on the floor of the Senate.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was the first interventionist agency established during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to address the under-development in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
