By Nathaniel Zacchaeus in Abuja
The Senate yesterday passed for second reading, bills seeking the establishment of the North West Development Commission and the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund.
Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, led the debate on the proposed North West Development Commission (NWDC) while Senator Yemi Adaramodu led the debate on the bill for the NYSC Trust Fund.
Barau, who sponsored the NWDC bill, explained that the proposed commission when established, would catalyse to development the arrays of potentials of the North West as well as address the gap in infrastructural development of the region.
He lamented that the infrastructure of the zone has been immensely destroyed by the activities of the Boko Haram Insurgents, bandits, and kidnappers across the region.
He said the development has led to the exodus of investors, businessmen, managers of companies, and employees.
The destruction, he added, was having a major impact on the economy of the region as it has led to severe food shortages and unemployment in a region that has traditionally produced cash and food crops across the Sahel.
He added that some parts of the region were currently facing the problem of desertification which has led to making agriculture and other economic activities suffer thereby creating more poverty in the zone.
When established, Barau said the commission shall, among others, formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the North West Zone where security shall prevail.
He also said the agency would rebuild the road, medical, educational, social, agricultural, and other infrastructures destroyed in the region by the activities of Boko-Haram Insurgents and Bandits.
The Deputy Senate President added that the agency would conceive, plan and implement, following the set rules and regulations, projects, and programmes for the sustainable development of the North West.
This he said would be in the field of roads, education, health facilities, employment, industrialisation, agriculture, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity, and commerce.
He said, “The commission will identify factors inhibiting the development of the region and assist the member states in the formulation and implementation of policies to ensure sound and efficient management of resources of the North West Zone.
“It will tackle ecological and environmental problems that arise from desertification problems and other related environmental challenges in the Zone
“The enactment of this Bill will help to rebuild the North West Zone and shall provide the opportunity for the people of the Zone to display their talents and contribute immensely to the development of the country,” Barau stated.
Adaramodu who sponsored the bill for the NYSC Trust Fund, said its establishment would help in the area of financing of skills acquisition and entrepreneurship for youth corps members as start-up capital.
He said it would invariably, help in making the young Nigerians, after the National Service to be employers of labour and not just job seekers.
