ViewPiontNigeria’s correspondent reports that the senate yesterday passed for third reading, a bill seeking to establish the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) to intervene in the re-construction of the region devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The bill also has Kano and Plateau states as beneficiaries of the commission’s funds, even though they are located in north-west and north-central geopolitical zones respectively.

The decision to include the two states in the rebuilding plan followed a motion by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central) that they also witnessed terrorist attacks by the insurgents.

The Senate, in passing the bill, approved the allocation of three per cent of the country’s Value Added Tax (VAT) to the commission for a period of 10 years.

It also resolved the controversy surrounding the location of the headquarters of the commission, by approving that it should be in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

ViewPointNigeria Analysis

This is indeed a laudable development. Ravaged communities from the incessant Plateau attacks & Boko Haram bombings may ultimately get some reprieve after years of non-action from FG.

Great as that it, it is slightly disappointing that no Plateau Senator argued for the inclusion of Plateau. If Rabiu Kwankwaso had not moved for the inclusion on Kano & other states – the bill might have principally been for the North East alone.

The lost of lives in Plateau over the last few years warrants its own commission and our lawmakers will do well to push such an agenda.

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Plateau to benefit from newly set up North East Development Commission