Senate approves committee report on bill establishing south-east commission

The senate has approved a conference committee report on a bill seeking to establish the South-East Development Commission.

The report was approved on Tuesday after Tahir Monguno, chair of the senate committee on judiciary, moved for its consideration.

The house of representatives and the senate had passed different versions of the bill in 2023 and earlier this year.

While presenting his report, Monguno explained that there was only one difference in the bills passed by the house and the senate.

“There is only one difference between the senate and the house,” he said.

“That of the senate states that the members of the South-East Development Commission should be subjected to approval of the senate.

“The house says members should be confirmed by the members of the house, but the senate version was adopted.”

On his part, Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, said the version of the upper legislative chamber is in line with the constitution.

“If the senate version is adopted it is in consonance with our constitution,” Jibrin said.

With the differences harmonised, the bill will now be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

The commission will receive and manage funds from the federation account to execute infrastructural projects in the south-east geo-political zone and tackle environment challenges like erosion among others.