UPDATE: SENATE AMENDS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS, NYSC TRUST FUND ACTS
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The Senate on Wednesday passed amendments to the Acts which established some regional development commissions and the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund to make provisions for their funding in the nation’s constitution.
The amendments followed the consideration of a motion “titled: “Re-commital of Bills to the Committee of the Whole,” by the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC – Ekiti Central).
Bamidela in his motion recalled that North-West, South West, South East Development Commissions and the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund establishment Bills 2025 were earlier passed by the Senate and House of Representatives.
He said the bills had been forwarded to Clerk to the National Assembly, for onward transmission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.
He, however, said: “The Senate observed that the funding clauses for the commissions and the proposed fund to be established as provided in the bills appeared to contradict section 162 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“Section 1, subsections (1 ) and 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended provides that the constitution is supreme and any law that contradicts the constitution shall be null and void to the extent of the contradiction.
“Mindful that Senate should not work in vain and should be seen to be observing the constitution like any other authority and persons in Nigeria, relied on orders 1(b) and 52(6) of its standing order 2023 as amended to rescind its decisions on the affected clauses of the development commissions bills, NYSC Trust Fund Bill.
“This, resulted in the re-commital of the bills to Committee of the Whole for reconsideration and passage.”
He listed the affected clauses to include, Clause 14 of 2025 North West, South West Development Commissions Establishment Bills.
He also said it affected clause 15 of South East Development Commission Establishment Bill and clause 4 (1) of the National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund Establishment Bill 2025.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio who presided over the plenary said the action became necessary to avoid any breach of the constitution.
He said the Senate observed that the funding clauses for the commissions and the proposed fund to be established as provided in the Acts appeared to contradict section 162 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The Red Chamber therefore approved an amendment to clauses 14 and 15 of the Acts establishing the North West, South-West and South-East Development Commissions.
Also amended is clause 4 (1) of 2025 National Youth Service Corps Trust Fund Establishment Bill.
After the bills were passed, Akpabio said all the regional development commissions bills were in tandem with the Nigerian Constitution.
He specifically said Section 162 which states that all funds accruing to the Federation shall be paid into the consolidated revenue fund of the Federation had been taken care of by the amendments.
He said that the amendments in the bills would be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Akpabio commended the establishment committee and his colleagues for working on the bills expeditiously, describing their contributions, patience, and patriotic zeal as dedication to the service of the nation.
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