By Jude Atupulazi
The passing by the Nigerian Senate of the South East Development Commission Bill has been described as a crucial step towards addressing the needs of Ndigbo and reassure them of their stake in the Nigerian Project. A visibly elated Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represents Anambra South Senatorial Zone, stated this, Wednesday, in a press statement he signed.
Thanking his colleagues for passing the bill, Ubah recalled that on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the floor of the Nigerian Senate, he had relied on Order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules to appreciate the upper chamber for passing the South East Development Commission Bill which he introduced to the present 10th Senate after which it passed First Reading on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 as SB.129.
In his words, ‘I further commended the Senate for working tirelessly to ensure that the Bill process was not discontinued after its First Reading and for diligently working to ensure its passage.
‘In my further appreciation to the Senate on behalf of the South East senators and honourable members, I highlighted the importance of the South East Development Commission Bill in addressing the developmental challenges faced by the South East Region of Nigeria, and emphasized the need for targeted interventions to promote economic growth, infrastructure development, and social welfare in the region.’
Speaking further on the importance of the Bill, Ubah reiterated that it would not only put the perceived marginalization of the South East to an end but would also when signed into law, enable the South East Zone to benefit directly from federal government intervention programmes, which, he said, were already being enjoyed by other zones like the South South and North East, through the Niger Delta Development Commission and North East Development Commission, respectively.
‘The present federal government is committed to the development of various regions of the country and I am confident that the Senate would prioritize the implementation of the Bill when signed into law and would also ensure that the Commission is effectively established and empowered to fulfil its mandate.
‘Ndị nkem, my commitment to working towards the development and prosperity of our Senatorial District, South East Region and the country as a whole, is sacrosanct, and I will always put in my best to ensure that your interests are always protected,’ Ubah assured in the press statement.
