N’ASSEMBLY REMOVES 3% SEAPORT, AIRPORT REVENUE CLAUSES FROM S’WEST DEVT BILL

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The House of Representatives on Wednesday deleted four primary clauses in the South West Development Commission Establishment Act.

The report on the Senate bill which was gazetted for the third reading during Wednesday’s plenary which was subsequently passed.

The bill seeks to “Establish the South West Development Commission charged with the responsibility, among other things, to receive and manage funds from allocation of the Federation Account, including donations and gifts for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructural damages suffered in the region and to tackle the ecological, environmental and other developmental challenges in the Region and for related matters.”

The proposed amendments to the Establishment Act were made in Section 14(b, c, d, and e).

Clause 14(b), which provided for “Three per cent of the annual budget of any Federal seaport and airport operating in the South West,” was deleted.

Similarly, Clause 14(c), which provided that “Three per cent of the total annual budget of any oil-producing company operating, onshore and offshore, in the South West states including gas processing companies,” was deleted.

Similarly, Clause 14(d), which provided that “Three per cent of the total annual budget of any solid mineral extracting mining company operating in the South West states,” was expunged.

Also, Clause 14(e), which read, “50 per cent of monies due to member-States of the Commission from the Ecological Fund,” was deleted.