A BILL FOR AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH SOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO RECEIVE AND MANAGE FUNDS FROM THE FEDERATION ACCOUNT ALLOCATION AND OTHER SOURCES, DONATIONS, GRANTS, AIDS FOR THE INTEGRATION, DEVELOPMENT, RESOLUTION OF INFRASTRUCTURAL DEFICIT, MILITANCY, COMMUNAL CRISES AS WELL AS TACKLE ECOLOGICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS
Sponsored by:
Hon. Awaji-Inombek D. Abiante
Hon. Umanah Aniekan John
Hon. Ifon Patrick Nathan
Hon. Luke Onofiok Akpan
Hon. Ukpong-Udo Emmanuel Effiong
Hon. Uduyok Francis Charles
Hon. Ekong Nsikak Okon
Hon. Archimbong Henry Okon
Hon. Ekpenyong Nse Bassey
Hon. Idem Unyime Josiah
Hon. Enyong Michael Okon
Hon.Sunny Goli Israel
Hon. Agbedi Frederick, Y.
Hon. Obua Azibapu Fred
Hon. Oseke Preye Influence Goodluck
Hon. Azaiki Stephen Sinikiem
Hon. Asuquo Daniel Effiong
Hon. Egbona Felix
Hon. Agibe Christopher Ngoro
Hon. Edim Eta Mbora
Hon. Ayi Essien Ekpenyong
Hon. Idagbo Ochiglegor
Hon. Etaba Micheal Irom
Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe
Hon. Elumelu Ndidi Godwin
Hon. Mutu Nicholas Ebomo
Hon. Pondi Julius G.
Hon. Igbakpa Ben Rollands
Hon. Nwokolo Victor Onyemaechi
Hon. Ogor Leonard Okuweh
Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai
Hon. Afe Oberuakpefe Anthony
Hon. Waive Ejiroghene Francis
Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi
Hon. Peter Ohio Zojeh Akpatason
Hon. Ise-Idehen Jude
Hon. Edionwele Joe Eghonghon
Hon. Oguns Sergius Oseasochie
Hon. Oghuma Johnson Johnny
Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama Omoregie
Hon. Aisowieren Patrick
Hon. Idahosa Dennis
Hon. Ihonvbere Julius
Hon. Bob Solomon
Hon. Nnam-Obi Prince Uchechkwu
Hon. Goodhead Boma
Hon. Dagogo Doctor Farah
Hon. Dike Chisom Promise
Hon. Emerengwa Boniface Sunday
Hon. Nwuzi Ephraim
Hon. Dekor Dumnamene Robinson
Hon. Chinda Kingsley Ogundu
Hon. Gogo Bright Tamuno
Hon. Chikere Kenneth Anayo
Hon. Igwe Chinyere Emmanuel
Hon. Nkem-Abonta Uzoma
[ ] Commencement
ENACTED by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria:
PART 1- ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH SOUTH DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION AND THE GOVERNING BOARD

(1) There is established a Commission to be known as South South
Development Commission (in this Bill referred to as “the Commission”)

The Commission shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession
and a common seal and may sue or be sued in its corporate name

(1) There is established for the Commission, a body to be known as the
Governing Board (in this Bill referred to as ‘the Board’) which shall
consist of-
Chairman;
One person who shall be an indigene to represent the following member
States, that is-
Akwa Ibom;
Bayelsa;
Cross River;
Delta;
Edo; and
Rivers
Three persons to represent the following Security Organizations-
The Army who shall not be below the rank of a Colonel;
The Police who shall not be below the rank of Superintendent of Police; and
The Civil Defence Corp who shall not be below the rank of Deputy Commandant.
One representative of Solid Minerals extracting and Mining producing
Companies in the South South States nominated by those companies;
One person to represent the Federal Ministry of Finance;
One person to represent the Federal Ministry of Environment;
The Managing Director of the Commission; and
Two executive Directors
(2) The Chairman and other members of the Board Shall-
(a) be appointed by the President, subject to the confirmation of the Senate;
in consultation with the House of Representatives; and
(b) must be persons of proven integrity and ability
(3) The members of the Board referred to in Section 2[1](c-f)
of this Bill shall be part-time members.
The supplementary provisions set out in the Schedule to this Bill shall have
effect with respect to the proceedings of the Board and the other matters
contained therein.
Subject to the provisions of clause 4 of this Bill, a member of the Board, other
than an ex-officio member, shall hold office for a term of 4 years at the first instance
and may be re-appointed for a further term of 4 years and no more.
The office of the Chairman shall rotate among the member states of the
Commission in the following alphabetical order-
Akwa Ibom;
(ii) Bayelsa;
(iii) Cross River;
(iv) Delta;
(v) Edo; and (vi) Rivers
(1) A member of the Board other than ex-officio member, may
resign his or her appointment by notice in writing addressed to the President.
Which resignation shall take effect only upon receipt and approval by
the President
(2) A member of the Board may cease membership if the member-
(a) becomes of unsound mind, or incapable of carrying out his duties;
(b) becomes bankrupt, suspends payment or compounds with his creditors;
(c) is convicted of a felony or any offence involving dishonesty or fraud;
(d) is guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his duties;
(e) in the case of a person possessed of professional qualifications, he is
disqualified or suspended, other than at his own request, from practicing his
profession in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority made
in respect of that member; or
(f) resigns his appointment by a letter addressed to the President
(3) Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Board, it shall be filled by
appointment of a person representing the area where the vacancy exists, to complete
the remainder of the term of office of the predecessor and shall be appointed by
the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate in consultation with the
House of Representatives.
There shall be paid to every member of the Board such remuneration, allowances
and expenses as the Federal Government may from time to time direct.

PART II – FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION, ETC.

(1) The Commission shall have powers to-

Formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the South South States;
Conceive, plan and implement, in accordance with the set rules and regulations,
projects and programmes for sustainable development of the South South States in
the field of transportation including roads, health, education, employment,
agriculture, industrialization, housing and urban development, water supply,
electricity and telecommunications;
Cause the South South States to be surveyed in order to ascertain measures
which are necessary to promote its physical and socio-economic development;
Prepare master plans and schemes designed to promote the physical development
of the South South States and the estimates of the costs of implementing such
master plans and schemes;
Implement all the measures approved for the development of the South South
States by the federal Government and the member States of the Commission;
Identify factors inhibiting the development of the South South States and assist
the member States in the formulation and implementation of policies to ensure
sound and efficient management of the resources of the South South States;
Assess and report on any project being funded or carried out in the South South
States by mineral extracting and mining companies, oil and gas producing companies, and any other company including non-governmental organizations and ensure that
funds released for such projects are properly utilized;
Tackle ecological and environmental problems that arise from the extraction and
mining of solid minerals, exploration of oil mineral in the South South States
and advise the Federal Government and the member States on the prevention and control of oil spillages, gas flaring and environmental pollution;
Liaise with the various solid mineral extraction and mining companies and
oil and gas prospecting and producing companies on all matters of pollution
prevention and control; and
Execute such other works and perform such other functions which in the opinion of the Commission are required for the sustainable development of the South South States and its peoples.
(2) In exercising its functions and powers under this clause, the Commission shall have regard to the varied and specific contributions of each member State of the Commission.
(3) The Commission shall be subject to the direction, control or supervision in the performance of its functions under this Bill by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Board shall have power to:
Manage and superintend the affairs of the Commission;
Makes rules and regulations for carrying out the functions of the Commission;
Enter and inspect premises, projects and such places as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out its functions under this Bill;
Pay the staff of the Commission such remuneration and allowances as are payable to persons of equivalent grades in the civil service of the Federation;
Enter into such contracts as may be necessary or expedient for the discharge of its functions and ensure the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission;
Employ either directly or on secondment from any civil or public service in the Federation or a State such number of employees as may be in the opinion of the Board, be required to assist the Board in the discharge of any of its functions under this Bill;
Pay to persons so employed such remuneration, including allowances, as the Board may
determine; and
Do such other things as are necessary and expedient for the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission.
PART III – STRUCTURE OF THE COMMISSION
(1) There shall be established in the head office of the Commission, the following Directorates;
the Directorate of Administration and Human Resources;
the Directorate of Community and Rural Development;
the Directorate of Utilities, Infrastructural Development and Waterways
the Directorate of Environmental Protection and Control;
the Directorate of Finance and Supply;
the Directorate of Solid Minerals, Agriculture and Fisheries;
the Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistics and Management Information System
the Directorate of Legal Services
the Directorate of Education, Health and Social Services;
the Directorate of Commercial and Industrial Development; and
the Directorate of Projects Monitoring and Supervision.
(2) The Board may increase the number of Directorates as it may deem necessary and expedient to facilitate the realization of the objectives of the Commission.

How far with the NDDC?

helinues:
How far with the NDDC?

This is about South South, not NDDC that includes Abia, Imo and Ondo states.

Interesting, south-south matter

AwkaFinest:



This is about South South, not NDDC that includes Abia, Imo and Ondo states.

No difference. (cos it's an avenue to chop money)
The bill should be rejected.

And they should scrap NDDC and NEDC

Lol

There is nddc, ministry of niger delta, 13 percent derivation, and you till ask for south south development commission, won't it be duplication of responsibility or what will be the work of the supposed commission you asking for?

Totally useless. Restructuring is what we want. Not some useless looting systems

You mean to add to NDDC and Niger-Delta ministry?

You guys are not serious! Was this how Dubai or Singapore developed? Keep on chasing shadows instead of squarely addressing the elephant in the room!

richeso:
Totally useless. Restructuring is what we want. Not some useless looting systems

Don’t mind them! This one will come with its own bloated overhead costs and other paraphernalia of big-mannism!

Sammy07:


No difference. (cos it's an avenue to chop money)
The bill should be rejected.

And they should scrap NDDC and NEDC

Big difference. Atleast more money to chop

Hopss:
There is nddc, ministry of niger delta, 13 percent derivation, and you till ask for south south development commission, won't it be duplication of responsibility or what will be the work of the supposed commission you asking for?

And you think the peanuts you just listed is enough.

duplication of functions. ..we already have nddc

Nah eh! No qualms

Regional government...small small


South south commission
Different from Niger delta

tobechi74:
Regional government...small small


South south commission
Different from Niger delta

Exactly they should allow us in the South-South develop at our own pace, the NDDC is not favouring us.

helinues:
How far with the NDDC?

This is about the main Niger Delta states and not the parts (Imo, Abia and Ondo) that were cut and joined to us.

privaldo:


Exactly they should allow us in the South-South develop at our own pace, the NDDC is not favouring us.

All south south states are part of NDDC na, is it only ONDO and imo that is making it not to favor you

You couldn’t manage nddc and 13%derivative
Na another bill you are after
Lol well
We are watching

tobechi74:


All south south states are part of NDDC na, is it only ONDO and imo that is making it not to favor you

I think the aim is to make it more focused on the South-South like NEDC for the North East

privaldo:


I think the aim is to make it more focused on the South-South like NEDC for the North East

Yet South east development bill did not see the light of the day. If every region has its own developments commission, what is the role of FG

tobechi74:

Yet South east development bill did not see the light of the day. If every region has its own developments commission, what is the role of FG

The FG has obviously not been playing its part in terms of developing the various regions, so I think its best to make it a regional affair.

[quote author=AwkaFinest post=96326951][/quote]
Even if niger delta owes the oil well they can’t stop militancy
Oil will be useless like coal in no distance time

privaldo:


I think the aim is to make it more focused on the South-South like NEDC for the North East

Finally a commission meant for the real Niger Delta State

tutudesz:

Finally a commission meant for the real Niger Delta State

Yes my friend, at least this won't be a case of borrowing from Peter to feed John knowing that Peter won't benefit anything from John.

[quote author=AwkaFinest post=96326964][/quote]

It's well