Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Senate endorses15% states funding for regional devt commissions

POSTED ON October 25, 2024 •   Politics      BY Benedicta Bassey
House of representative/ Photo credit: Guardian

The Senate has endorsed 15 per cent from the Consolidated Revenue Fund as source of funding for the newly created zonal development commissions by member-states.

This move followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Special Duties on the bills establishing the commissions.

The lawmakers, however, were in disagreement over the source of the funding for the newly zonal development commissions.

The disagreement emerged during the clause-by-clause consideration of the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, which serves as the structural template for other zonal commissions.

Central to the debate was the Senate Committee on Special Duties’ recommendation that 15 per cent of statutory allocations from member states be directed towards funding these commissions.

Following the disagreement, lawmakers who voices their concerns over the new proposed funding model including Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North), Wasiu Eshinlokun (APC, Lagos East), and Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), voiced concerns over the proposed funding model.

Abdullahi warned that the provision could lead to legal challenges from state governments, as no state would willingly allow its statutory allocation to be reduced.

“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the 15 per cent of statutory allocations of member states recommended for funding their zonal development commissions would be litigated against by some state governments,” Abdullahi said.

Also, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, quickly intervened explaining that the 15 per cent allocation would not involve a direct deduction from the states’ funds.

He said, “Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the 15 per cent of statutory allocation of member states, recommended for funding of zonal development commissions by the Federal Government, is not about deduction at all.

“What is recommended as contained in the report presented to us by the committee on special duties and being considered by the Senate now is that 15 per cent of statutory allocation of member states in a zonal development commission would, by way of calculation by the Federal Government, used to fund the commission from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“Each state has a monthly statutory allocation, 15 per cent of which, as contained in this report being considered, will be calculated by the Federal Government and removed from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for funding of their development commission.”

Despite Barau’s explanation, several senators kicked against the moves.

Addressing the disagreement, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, underscored the need for the funding, saying that, the provision was constitutionally sound.

Akpabio citing section 162 (4) of the 1999 constitution, which grants the National Assembly the authority to appropriate funds from either the Consolidated Revenue Fund or the Federal account said, “We don’t need to debate whether 15 per cent of statutory allocations from member states in a commission would be deducted.

“Fifteen per cent of the statutory allocation has been recommended by the Senate and, by extension, the National Assembly, for funding these zonal development commissions. Anyone who wishes to challenge that in court is free to do so,” he added.

Akpabio then called for a voice vote, and the majority voted in favour of the provision.

In his remarks following the passage of the consolidated bills, Akpabio expressed gratitude to the senators for their efforts in finalising the zonal development commissions.

He noted that these commissions would provide a foundation for the newly created Ministry of Regional Development.

The bills passed include the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, the North West Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the South-East Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024.

The South West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 and North Central Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 were previously passed.

READ ALSO
Tinubu Assembles High-Level Committee After Benue Tragedy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 19, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu announced the formation of a committee on Wednesday aimed at restoring sustain...

READ ALSO
Tor Tiv Urges President Tinubu to Foster Lasting Peace in Benue State
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 18, 2025 0

The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, expressed that President Bola Tinubu has the ability to bring lasti...

READ ALSO
Benue Declares Holiday for President Tinubu’s Visit Amid Security Concerns
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 18, 2025 0

BENUE, Nigeria - To facilitate open discussions between residents of Benue State and President Bola...

READ ALSO
Tinubu Signs Bills for New Educational Institutions
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 17, 2025 0

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has enacted three bills sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House of Repr...

READ ALSO
IGP, Speakers Clash Over Policing Models in Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 17, 2025 0

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of...

READ ALSO
Lagos Assembly Demands Accountability in Tackling Youth Violence
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 16, 2025 0

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the state’s Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Mosh...

READ ALSO
APC Meeting Turns Violent Over Vice President Shettima's Position
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 16, 2025 0

GOMBE, Nigeria - Although the 2027 elections are still two years away, an alleged scheme to replace...

READ ALSO
CBN Governor, Finance Minister to Address Allegations Before House Committee
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 15, 2025 0

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, along with the Minister of Finance,...

OUR CHANNELS:

Moses Simon Completes Move to Paris FC for €7 Million
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 19, 2025 0

As reported by French news source Foot Mercato, Paris FC, a newly-promoted team in French Ligue 1, h...


Osimhen's Impressive Loan Spell Fuels Transfer Speculation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 19, 2025 0

Nigerian international Victor Osimhen remains at the center of significant transfer rumors, with Ita...


NDLEA Calls for Collective Action Against Drug Abuse in Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 19, 2025 0

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has urged Nigerians and state governments to take r...


Tor Tiv Urges President Tinubu to Foster Lasting Peace in Benue State
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 19, 2025 0

The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, expressed that President Bola Tinubu has the ability to bring lasti...


Desperate Investments: Why Nigerians Turn to Ponzi Schemes for Survival
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 19, 2025 0

At a modest internet café tucked away in Egbeda, a bustling Lagos suburb, 29-year-old Chidi O...


Benue Declares Holiday for President Tinubu’s Visit Amid Security Concerns
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 18, 2025 0

BENUE, Nigeria - To facilitate open discussions between residents of Benue State and President Bola...


Samuel Chukwueze Faces Uncertain Future at AC Milan Amid Transfer Speculation
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 19, 2025 0

The winger for the Super Eagles,Samuel Chukwueze,finds himself in a precarious position at AC Milan...


Tottenham Hotspur Eyes Raphael Onyedika as Summer Transfer Target
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 19, 2025 0

Tottenham Hotspur is in the running to acquire midfielder Raphael Onyedika from Club Brugge, heighte...


Can Memes Drive Voter Engagement? New Research Explores the Dual Impact
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 18, 2025 0

In Nigeria’s fast-scrolling digital world, memes are no longer just for laughs, they are part...


Dele-Bashiru Set for Role Change Under Lazio's Maurizio Sarri
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 18, 2025 0

Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru may be poised for a change in his role under manager Mau...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu