Nigeria’s Upper lawmaking arm, the Senate has stepped down a bill seeking to establish the South-South Development Commission
The bill sponsored by Sen. Asuquo Ekpeyong representing Cross River South failed to scale second reading after a voice vote where lawmakers unanimously declined to give backing to the bill.
In a debate, the lawmakers argued about the propriety of establishing multiple agencies, particularly against the backdrop of an existing commission in the Niger Delta.
However, as soon as he concluded his lead debate, the bill was immediately opposed by senators who spoke after him.
Two of them from the North – senators Adamu Aliero and Abdul Ningi – said the proposed commission was a duplication of the existing Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), advising the Senate to drop it.
In the ensuing voice vote, the house became polarised and after the voice votes, the bill was stepped down for further consultation.
