A bill for the establishment of the South-West Development Commission on Wednesday passed second reading in the Senate.
This was sequel to presentation of the lead debate by the sponsor of the bill, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
The bill is entitled: “A bill for an act to establish the South-West Development Commission to act as catalyst to develop the commercial and industrial potentials of the South-West to receive and manage funds from allocation of the federation for the agricultural and industrial development of the South-West.”
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Amosun said the objectives were to facilitate rapid and sustainable development of the South-West into a region that was economically prosperous and socially stable.
Amosun said other objectives of the bill included the reduction of unemployment, while also providing skills to promote the development of the South West.
He said: “To identify factors inhibiting the development of South-West and assist member states in formulation and implementation of policies to ensure sound and efficient management of resources in the sub-region.
Supporting the passage of the bill for the second reading, Senator Teslim Folarin (APC-Oyo) said the bill sought to reset the South West.
Folarin said: “The South-West is known as a leader in a good way.
“We have excelled in the past in the area of education, agriculture and infrastructural development.
“But what do we have today?
“It is all decayed.”
He said the bill sought to have a development commission that would act as a coordinating point for all the South Western states.
Folarin said the major reason why the country was regressive rather than progressing “is this one side veto policy.”
He added: “Take education for instance, we develop one curriculum in Abuja or wherever and we expect it to work in every state of the federation.”
Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa (APC-Bauchi) said: “I have a completely different view on this bill.
“I rise not to support it.
“I rise to alert us here.
“I rise to alert the Senate.
“This chamber should not be the chamber where basis for disintegration of Nigeria should be discussed.
“There was first Amotekun, now there is South-West Development Commission.
“Now all the other commissions that were approved by this Senate: NDDC, North-East, were actually borne out of circumstances.
“North-East was devastated by Boko Haram and they need rehabilitation.
“The same thing with Niger Delta because of the oil exploration activities, livelihood of the people was almost rendered useless and they could not go to farm.
“I cannot see reason why the South-West Development Commission should be created because South-West is the most developed sub-region in this country.”
Senato Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) said the bill was in overriding national interest.
Senator Peter Nwaboshi (PDP-Delta) said: “If we balkanise Nigeria with what we are doing, we will be held responsible.
“What we are doing in this Senate, we passed two bills: the North-East Development bill and the South-East Development bill.
“The President in his wisdom did not sign one because he does not want balkanisation.
“We should not sit here and divide the country.”
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters for further legislative action to report back to the upper chamber within four weeks.
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