The Senate has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Bill, 2017 and for his commitment towards the plight of the North Eastern region via a motion titled “The Assent of the North East Development Commission Bill” at its plenary session of Wednesday, 1 November 2017.
Moving the motion, the Senate Leader, Sen. Ahmad Lawan (APC: Yobe) stated that the assent to the Bill marks the establishment of the NEDC, which shall be responsible for:
- Receiving and managing funds allocated by the Federal Government and International Donor Agencies for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency. The NEDC will also to help tackle poverty and environmental challenges in the region;
- Coordinating projects and programmes within the master plan for the rehabilitation, resettlement, reconciliation, reconstruction and sustainable development of the North Eastern zone in the fields of agriculture; wealth creation and employment opportunities; urban and rural development and poverty alleviation;
- Liaising with the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), State and Development Partners on the implementation of all measures approved in the master plan for the stabilization and development of the North East by the Federal Government;
- Assessing and reporting on any project being funded or carried out in the North East by any Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) or company that has an agreement with the Federal Government to ensure that funds released for such projects are properly utilized;
- Liaising with other stakeholders on the tackling of humanitarian, ecological and environmental problems that may arise from natural causes, insurgency and industrial activities in the North East, including, seeking humanitarian and technical support from both local and foreign partners, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs); and
- Co-ordinating civil-military confidence building and stabilization measures especially before, during and after military security operations.
Sen. Lawan mentioned that the establishment of the NEDC is a direct response by this administration to address the wide spread devastation inflicted on the zone by the activities of Boko-Haram insurgents after 8 years. According to him, the NEDC will provide an institutional framework that will ensure transparency, accountability and prudent management of funds that will build the confidence of donor agencies and foundations to assist and fund projects of the Commission.
In addition, Sen. Lawan noted that its establishment would put an end to the huge humanitarian crisis in the North East and expressed his conviction that the Act would restore the confidence of indigenes to rebuild a region that has been described to be one of the poorest in Nigeria.
Following his submissions, the Senate also applauded the efforts of its leadership for their support and urged the Federal Government to make adequate financial provisions in the forthcoming 2018 Budget. Donor agencies were also encouraged to continue supporting the North East through the newly established Commission.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the NEDC, Bill on Thursday, 26 October 2017.
