A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Enugu state, Pastor Tony Amalu has commended the leadership of the 10th National Assembly over the passage of the South East Development Commission Bill
The Senate, on Thursday, 23rd February, 2024 passed the bill after the House of Representatives passed same on December 21st, 2023.
The commission, when established, shall, among other functions, “conceive, plan and implement, in accordance with the set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the South East states.
The areas of intervention will include transportation including roads, health, education, employment, agriculture, industrialization, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications.
Other functions include, “tackling ecological and environmental problems that arise from the extraction and mining of solid mineral, exploration of oil mineral in the Southeast states and advise the Federal Government and the member states on the prevention and control of oil spillages, gas flaring and environmental pollution; liaise with the various solid mineral extraction and mining companies and oil and gas prospecting and producing companies on all matters of pollution prevention and control; and execute such other works and perform such other functions which in the opinion of the Commission are required for the sustainable development of the South East States and its peoples.”
In a statement made available to Journalist101, Pastor Amalu said the action of the 10th Assembly “is a true testament of the political sagacity and leadership prowess of the Senate President (H.E. Sen. Goodwill Akpabio) and the Speaker of the House of Representatives ( RT Hon. Tajudeen Abbas).”
He added that “The 10th Assembly has indeed proven to be working for the unity and overall development of the country,” while applauding “the sponsors of this all important Bill.”
While calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to quickly give his assent, he noted that “the SEDC Bill when signed into law will facilitate the infrastructural development plan of the president Tinubu led Federal Government which will ultimately impact the economy and security of the region positively thereby reducing the incidences of agitations and alleged discrimination and marginalisation among the South Easterners.”
