Senate Passes Bills to Develop North West, Empower NYSC Members

The Senate yesterday passed for second reading bills seeking the establishment of the North-west Development Commission (NCWD) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Trust Fund .

Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, led the debate on the proposed NWDC, while Senator Yemi Adaramodu, led the debate on the bill for the NYSC Trust Fund.

Barau, who sponsored the NWDC bill, explained that the proposed commission when established , would serve as a catalyst to develop the arrays of potential of the North West as well as address the gap in infrastructural development of the region.

He lamented that infrastructure of the zone had been immensely destroyed by the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and kidnappers across the region.

He said the development had led to the exodus of investors, businessmen, managers of companies and employees.

The destruction, he added, was having a major impact on the economy of the region as it has led to severe food shortages and unemployment in a region that has traditionally produced cash and food crops across the Sahel.

He added that some parts of the region were currently facing the problem of desertification which have led to making agriculture and other economic activities suffer thereby creating more poverty in the zone.

When established, Barau said the commission shall, among others, formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the North West Zone where security shall prevail.

He also said the agency would rebuild the road, medical, educational, social, agricultural and other infrastructures destroyed in the region by the activities of Boko-Haram insurgents and bandits.

The deputy senate president added that the agency would conceive, plan and implement, in accordance with the set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the North West.

This, he said, would be in the field of roads, education, health facilities, employment, industrialisation, agriculture, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and commerce.

He said: "The commission will identify factors inhibiting the development of the region and assist the member states in the formulation and implementation of policies to ensure sound and efficient management of resources of the North West Zone.