The House at its plenary on Thursday 1^st June 2017, rejected a Bill seeking to establish a South East Development Commission (SEDC).

The bill which was sponsored by Hon. Chukwuka Onyema Wilfred (PDP: Anambra) and 42 other lawmakers from the South East States sought to establish a South East Development Commission (SEDC) charged with the responsibility of receiving and managing funds from allocations of the Federation account for the purposes of reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, construction of houses, repairing the infrastructural damage suffered by the region as a result of the effect of the civil war and tackle ecological problems and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in South East amongst others.

The funding for the Commission was also outlined as follows:

1. 15%of the total monthly statutory allocations due to member states of the Commission from the Federation account;
2. 3%of the total budget of any oil producing company operating onshore and offshore in the South East including Gas processing companies;
3. 3% of the total annual budget of any solid mineral extracting mining company operating in the South East;
4. 50% of monies due to member states of the Commission from the Ecological fund;
5. Such monies as may from time to time be granted or lent or deposited with the Commission by the Federal Government or State Government, any other body or institution whether local or foreign;
6. All monies raised for the purpose of the Commission by way of gifts, loans grants-in –aid, testamentary disposition; and
7. Proceeds from all other assets that may from time to time accrue to the Commission.

However, speaking against the Bill Hon. Sunday Karimi (PDP:Kogi) stated that the North Central brought a Bill of similar nature four months ago and which was stepped down at the Speaker’s request. He also noted some of the inconsistences contained in the Bill mentioning that the Niger Delta Development Commission already had some South East States as members and that asking oil companies who were already contributing 3% of their earnings to contribute to the proposed Commission would be unfair. Hon Sanni Abdul also raised issues with the manner proposed for funding. He was of the view that demanding for an additional 3% of oil companies’ budget would affect the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Private sector investment. He also advocated for consultation with States and Local Governments on this issue in line with the Constitution.

In addition some co-sponsors of the Bill justified their support for its proposal. For instance, Hon Nkem Abonta(PDP:Abia) justified the Bill stating that the Bill was as a result of agitations from the South East. He also mentioned that the Bill was necessary in the light that the national budget allocated to the South East had decreased over the last four years. Hon Toby Okechukwu (PDP: Enugu) was also of the view that it will solve ‘youth restiveness’ and enable young people gain employment.

However, the passage of the Bill for second reading was aborted as it failed to obtain the required voice vote.