National Assembly Considers Passing North-East Development Commission 2015 Bill

Plenary session resumed on Wednesday at the National Assembly with the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, considering bills passed to him by the senators. A major bill being considered was the establishment of an act to establish the North-East Development Commission. The Commission is to take care of the damages to infrastructure committed by the Boko Haram insurgency group; develop strategies to reduce poverty in the North-East amongst others. The bill was submitted by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume who argued that there has been a decline in agriculture, infrastructure collapse and social warfare in the North-East region because of the insurgencies. Senator Ndume added that the bill will provide a legal framework to meet the needs in the North-East, adding that  the bill seeks to establish the Commission, bridge the gap of the existing legal framework and create an institution to meet the present demands of the North-East. He also noted that the Commission will provide a long time plan for presidential intervention in the region. The senator also said it will resuscitate agricultural project to its state and provide security for the people amongst others.