By Taiye Odewale
Abuja
Move for future inclusion of Kano and Plateau States as part of beneficiaries of the newly created North East Development Commission (NEDC) failed yesterday at the Senate.
The bill for establishment of the commission targeted at spearheading the reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of peoples and infrastructure affected by Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States was signed into law last week by President Muhammadu Buhari after its passage and transmission to that effect by the National Assembly on the 13th of January this year.
Though the Senate had in its own version of the bill included Kano and Plateau States as part of States to be covered by the commission when eventually set up on account of series of highly destructive terrorists attacks inflicted on them by Boko Haram insurgents but their inclusion was later expunged at the conference level between the Senate committee and that of House of Representatives .
In an attempt for possible inclusion of the two states during future amendment of the NEDC Act , Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North) as an additional prayer to a motion moved on assent to the bill by President Buhari sought the approval of the Senate for inclusion of the two States in any future amendments of the Act.
Barau’s additional prayer seconded by Jeremiah Useni (PDP Plateau South) reads: “Whenever in future the NEDC Act is amended, Kano and Plateau states should be included “,
But senators overwhelmingly voted against the prayer when put to voice votes by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session .
Also during debate on the motion on assent to the bill sponsored by Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central) and 15 other senators, senators from other zones of the country agitated for similar commission for the development of their zones.
First to make such agitation was James Manager (PDP Delta South) who commended the President and the National Assembly for the NEDC Act but urged the Senate to do likewise for the South East Development Commission Bill which according to him, has passed second reading.
Meanwhile the Senate has urged the federal government to make adequate financial provisions for the newly established NEDC in the 2018 budget for its appropriate take off.
