The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the North East Development Commission, (NEDC) Bill. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki described the presidential action as a major development by the present administration to restore peace and normalcy in the North-East.
“Now, that the NEDC Act has the full force and effect of the law, it is my hope that we can collectively work towards the rehabilitation, reconstruction and rebuilding of the North-East
“I believe the NEDC Act will help alleviate the suffering of the millions of Nigerians whose lives have been affected by the insurgency in the zone
“You will recall that when I visited Maiduguri, I promised that the National Assembly will work and pass law to alleviate the suffering of the people. I thank God, Mr. President, my colleagues and members of the House of Representatives for making the promise a reality”.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has also commended the President for the NEDC Bill.
“I expect that the expeditious coming into force of the commission will remedy the long years of underdevelopment suffered by the region. The recovery and redevelopment of the zone devastated by terrorism is expected to last decades”.
The NEDC establishment bill was sponsored by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara in 2015. It seeks for the recovery, resettlement, and rebuilding of the violence ravaged region amongst others.
Things to know about the NEDC Bill:
The NEDC is charged with the responsibility of receiving and managing funds from allocation of the Federation Account and International Donors for the settlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency as well as tackling menace of poverty, literacy level, ecological problems and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in the North East States.
The bill therefore seeks to:
1. Formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the North-East States;
2. Conceive, plan and implement, in accordance with set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the North East States in the field of transportation including roads, health, education, employment, agriculture, industrialization, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications.
3. Cause the North East States to be surveyed, in order to ascertain measures which are necessary to promote its physical and socio- economic development.
4. Prepare master plans and schemes designed to promote the physical development of the North East States and the estimates of the cost of implementing such master plans and schemes.
5. Implement all the measures approved for the development of the North East States by the Federal Government and the member States of the Commission.
6. Identify factors inhibiting the development of the North East States and assist the member States in the formulation and implementation of policies to ensure sound and efficient management of its resources.
7. Assess and report on any project being funded or carried out in the North East States by Solid mineral extracting and mining companies, agricultural processing and any other company including Non-Governmental Organizations and ensure that funds released for such projects are properly utilised.
8. Tackle ecological and environmental problems that arise from the extraction and mining of solid mineral, in the North East States and advise the Federal Government and the member States on the prevention and control of water and environmental pollution..
9. Liaise with the various Solid mineral extraction and mining companies on all matters of pollution prevention and control.
10. Execute such other works and perform such other functions which in the opinion of the Commission, are required for the sustainable development of the North East States and its people.
The equivalent of the NEDC is the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which was established in 2000, with the mission of facilitating the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.
The NDDC has been effective in carrying out numerous projects in the Niger Delta Communities. Since its inception 17 years ago, it has awarded over 8,557 projects of which 3,424 have been completed and handed over to Communities and States. Over 2,257 projects are ongoing and 2,506 are yet to begin.
The projects are distributed across civil works such as buildings, canalisation and reclamation, jetties and shore protection and electrification. We also have projects such as roads and bridges, water supply, flood control and erosion drainage and equipping and furnishing of schools and health centres among others.
