The Nigerian Senate has suspended a bill aimed at creating the South South Development Commission.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who represents Cross River South, was brought up in plenary by Senator Benson Agadaga of Bayelsa East.
Senator Agadaga stated that the proposed commission sought to tackle various challenges faced by the South-South geopolitical zone.
He said the challenges include socio-economic issues, climate change, environmental degradation, and ecological problems caused by oil exploration in the region.
The South-South zone encompasses the states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, and Rivers.
However, Senator Adamu Aliero of Kebbi Central argued that the bill was redundant because the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) already addresses the same objectives.
“I see it as a duplication and overlapping functions. It would have been better if he came with an amendment to the Niger Delta Development Commission,” Aliero stated.
He added that passing the bill in its current form would go against parliamentary practices and could bring ridicule to the Senate.
Following the submissions, Senate President Godswill Akpabio led a verbal vote, resulting in the bill being set aside for further review.
