The bill for the creation of South-South Development Commission, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Senator representing Cross River South has passed its second reading after a voice vote where lawmakers unanimously gave backing to the bill. It is believed that the establishment of the South-South Development Commission will address infrastructural development in the South-South region. The bill which was previously stepped down during the plenary on 18th July 2024, for further consultation after it was presented by another Senator on behalf of Senator Ekpenyong, as he was away on an official assignment, was asked to be represented in due course.
As a result, the bill was quickly withdrawn for further consultation and not subject to voting. The stepping down of the bill on the July 18th plenary turned out to be a blessing in disguise as voting would have automatically killed the bill for the remainder of the 10th Assembly, making it ineligible for representation till the 11th Senate commenced in June 2027.
The bill was also rejected by the Federal Lawmakers back in July when it was first presented because they claimed that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) had covered most of the functions of the proposed commission (SSDC).
Yesterday, 3rd July 2024, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong of APC, Cross River South in his argument convinced senators across party lines and geopolitical zones to embrace and support the idea. Senator Ekpenyong corrected the notion that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is being mistaken to be a single geopolitical development commissions, but it is rather a resource based commission that cuts across three geopolitical zones; South West, South South and South East.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio put the bill to a vote and it was unanimously passed after being elated by total support from all senators and was referred to the Senate Committee on Special Duties to report back in a week.
