The Senate, on Thursday, passed the Bills for establishment of the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, North West Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the South East Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024.
The Red Chamber had earlier passed the South West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 and North Central Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024.
Before passages of the Bills for three of the regional Commissions were heated arguments on the source of funding for the various Zonal Development Commissions created by both chambers of the National Assembly.
The disagreement on source of funding recommended for the commission came up during clause-by-clause consideration of the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, to be used as an operational and structural template for the other commissions.
The Senate Committee on Special Duties had in its report, recommended that 15% of Statutory allocations of member States in a commission, should be used to fund the commission by the federal government.
Some of the Senators across parties divide however raised observations on the recommendation.
Senator representing Kebbi North, Yahaya Abdullahi, argued that the provision would lead to litigation against the federal government by the State government as no state would like its statutory allocation to be tampered with in the process of finding a zonal development commission.
“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the 15% of statutory allocations of member States, recommended for funding of their zonal development commissions, would be litigated against by some state government,” he said.
Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, however, allayed the fears of his colleagues.
Senator Barau in his submission, said the 15% Statutory allocation of member states for funding of their zonal development commission, would not entail any deduction from their statutory allocation.
“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the 15% of Statutory allocation of member states, recommended for funding of Zonal Development Commissions by the federal government, is not about deduction at all.
“What is recommended as contained in the report presented to us by the committee on Special duties and being considered by the Senate now, is that 15% of statutory allocation of member states in a zonal development commission would by way of calculation by the federal government, used to fund the commission from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
” Each state has monthly statutory allocation, 15 % of which as contained in this report being considered, will be calculated by the federal government and removed from the consolidated Revenue Fund for funding of their Development Commission.”
While some agitated Senators made attempts to counter him, the President of the Senate, prevented them and further explained that the provision was in order as constitutionally supported.
“We don’t need to be debating on whether 15% statutory allocation of member states in a commission would be deducted or not in view of provisions of section 162 (subsection 4) of 1999 constitution which empowers the National Assembly to appropriate from either the Consolidated Revenue Fund or Federation Account.
“15 % of statutory allocation of member states, has been recommended by the Senate and by extension, National Assembly, for funding of their zonal development commission by the federal government, anybody who want to go court over that may do so,” he said.
He consequently put the question on the adoption of the provision for voice votes to Senators and ruled that the ayes have it.
In his remarks after the passage of the consolidated bills, Akpabio thanked the Senators for spending several hours on final consideration and amendment of the Zonal Development Commission which according to him, would serve as bedrock for the newly created Ministry of Regional Development.
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