A bill seeking the establishment of the North West Development Commission has passed its first reading at the Senate.
The bill which was sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, and titled “North West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023,” passed through first reading during Tuesday’s plenary season of the Senate presided over by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
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The Clerk to the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, read the short title of the bill during the plenary session.
Barau explained that “the commission when established would accelerate the development of the commercial and industrial potentials of the North West geopolitical zone, comprising seven states; Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara.
“When established will receive and manage funds for the agricultural and industrial development of the North West geopolitical zone.”
He added, “In the last 10 years, states in the North West geopolitical zone especially Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara have been battling with security challenges, thereby retarding their development.
“Specifically, the commission when established will formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the North West in the areas of roads, education, health, employment, industrialization, agriculture, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity, and commerce.”