A Bill seeking to
address Biafra agitation with the establishment of Development Commission for
the Southeast geo-polical zone suffered a setback on the floor of the House of Representatives
Wednesday.
The sponsors of the
Bill failed to present it for second
reading.
The general principles
of the bill, sponsored by Chukwuka Onyema (PDP, Anambra), Uzoma Nkem-Abonta
(PDP, Abia) and Henry Nwawuba (PDP, Imo) was listed for debate Wednesday but
had to be stepped down.
When it was time for
the bill to be debated and the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara noticed that the lead
sponsor Onyema, who is also the Minority Leader was not on the floor, he asked
the Chairman, Rules and Business Committee, Emmanuel Oker-Jev to step it down.
At this point, voices
were heard around the floor indicating that one of the sponsors, Nkem-Abonta was on ground.
The Speaker then asked
Nkem-Abonta to take it.
On his feet, the
lawmaker stated that he could not present the bill because it was agreed
between them that the Minority Leader will present it and take the lead debate.
The bill was eventually
stepped down with the leave of the House.
According to the
snippets of the lead debate, the bill
that seeks to establish the South East Development Commission would be charged
with the responsibility among other things to receive and manage fund from
allocation of the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation
of roads, houses and other infrastructural damages suffered by the region as a
result of the effect of the civil war as well as tackle the ecological problems
and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in the South
East States.
The objectives of the
Bill with the establishment of the South East Development Commission is help to
tackle the infrastructure deficit in the South East.
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