About 80 members of the Federal House of Representatives have moved for a bill for the establishment of South West Development Commission – a commission to address the infrastructure deficit in the southwest geopolitical zone.
The bill on Wednesday scaled through second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.
Sponsored by Mr. Olufemi Fakeye and 80 others, including Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, the piece of legislation is entitled, “A bill for an act to establish South West Development Commission charged with responsibility, among others to receive and manage funds from allocation of the Federation Account, including donations and gifts, for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of raids, houses and other infrastructural damages suffered by the region and the need to tackle the ecological problems and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in the southwest states and for related matters.”
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With the exception of a few lawmakers who opposed the move, the majority, who bared their minds on the initiative, believed that the country would be the biggest beneficiary if the zone is well developed.
Shehu Koko, who chairs the House Committee on Air Force, was particularly excited at the prospect of developing Lagos State – the commercial nerve centre of the country.
Koko (Kebbi: APC) argued that the growth of Lagos would have
a positive impact on the wellbeing of Nigerians.
Yusuf Buba (Adamawa: APC), while throwing his weight behind the bill, described
Lagos as a melting pot and home to all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic and
religious inclinations.
For Eke Bede Uchenne (Imo: APC), a development commission for the South West was an idea whose time had come, urging sustainable pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the piece of legislation after going through the mill in the National Assembly.
