Senate Passes South West Development Commission Bill for Second Reading

The Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading a bill for the establishment of South West Development Commission (SWDC) sponsored by former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

The Senate has referred the bill to its committee on Establishment and Public Service chaired by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau for further legislative action within four weeks.

This was sequel to the passage of the bill for second reading after the lead debate presented by the sponsor, Senator Amosun, as well as contributions by some other senators.

Amosun, while leading the debate, stated that the push for the establishment of the South West Development Commission is aimed at addressing the dwindling fortunes of the South-west region "by implementing a regional development plan, taking into consideration the region's unique endowments, natural advantages and capabilities."

He said the bill, if passed into law, would enhance regional integration as well as act as a catalyst to develop the geo-political zone by providing legislative backing to address some of these challenges in the region.

The bill, Amosun further explained, seeks to resolve issues of underdevelopment by redirecting the federal attention to the development challenges of the region which comprises Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States. Issues which include, “but are not limited to, agriculture, transportation, health, infrastructural decay, education, environment, housing, industrialisation, water supply, electricity, commerce among others, which when addressed, would have a multiplier effect of great proportions not only for the South-west region but Nigeria in general.”

In their contributions, Senators Teslim Folarin, James Manager, Emmanuel Bwacha, Ayo Akinyelure and Obinna Ogba spoke in support of the bill, saying the establishment of the Commission will lead to the development of the South-west zone.

Two senators namely: Adamu Bulkachuwa and Peter Nwaoboshi, however, spoke against the bill.

On his part, Bulkachuwa stressed that "this chamber shouldn't be a place where the disintegration of Nigeria should be discussed. The NDDC was a product of circumstance, the livelihood of the people there has been devastated. The North East Development Commission is as a result of devastation.

"Southwest is the most advantaged region. They now have Amotekun. This bill is the most dangerous bill that can lead to disintegration. A zone arguing for true federalism is now seeking a Commission that will centralise things."

Also opposing the bill, Senator Nwaoboshi declared that: "If we balkanise Nigeria, we will be held responsible. What we are doing today we will balkanise Nigeria and every zone will have its own (Commission), including the Midwest. We shouldn't sit here and divide this country. The foundation we are laying now is the foundation to balkanise this country."