Senators disagree over source of funding for development commissions

Senators on Thursday were divided over the source of funding for development commissions in the country.

The disagreement came to the fore when the upper legislative chamber considered and passed clauses of a bill seeking to establish the South South Development Commission.

Nigeria currently has in existence the North East Development Commission, North Central Development Commission, South East Development Commission, North West Development Commission and South West Development Commission.

Some of the laws establishing these commissions were recently passed by the national assembly and signed by the president.

While presenting his report on the floor of the senate, Kaka Shehu, chair of the committee on special duties, recommended that 15 percent of the statutory allocation of the states in a geo-political zone should be used to fund the commissions.

But Seriake Dickson, senator representing Bayelsa west, said states would not want their allocations to be used to fund the commissions.

Also kicking against the recommendation, Yahaya Abdullahi, senator representing Kebbi north, said states would sue the federal government over the provision if it is signed into law.

Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, disagreed.

“Each state has a monthly statutory allocation,” he said.

“Fifteen percent 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.”

At this point, some senators could be heard protesting.

However, when the clause was put to a vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, it was adopted

The senators also deleted a clause that provided immunity for board members and executives of development commissions.

The south-south commission bill was passed for third reading.