National Assembly has removed Kano and Plateau states from the
proposed North-East Development Commission, triggering protest from
senators from North-West and North Central zones.
It will be recalled that the Senate, while passing the Bill for an Act
to establish North-East Development Commission and other related
matters, had included the two states as beneficiaries of the commission
because they had also been negatively affected by the activities of Boko
Haram insurgents.
The removal of the two states was contained in the
Conference Report presented by the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume.
Protesting the removal of Kano and Plateau states, Senator Kabiru
Gaya (APC, Kano South) contended that the Senate had earlier agreed to
include the states, and asked why they should be dropped.
Also, Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC Zamfara), insisted that the
recommendation be thrown away, arguing that the two states were affected
by the activities of Boko Haram and should be included in the
commission.
Senate Leader, Ndume, who explained why the two states were removed,
said the commission was to coordinate the development and reconstruction
of the area.
President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who appealed to his
colleagues to accept the report, said the important thing was commitment
to the development of the area.
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