North East Senators fight over location of North East Development Commission's Headquarters

North East Senators fight over location of North East Development Commission's Headquarters

It was a mild drama at the Senate on Tuesday as Senators from the North East Geo-Political zone failed to agree on the location of the headquarters of the proposed North East Development Commission (NEDC).

The Senators disagreed during a debate on the report of the Committee on Special Duties, chaired by Senator Abdul-Aziz Murtala Nyako on the commission. 

The committee had recommended that the headquarters be sited in Abuja.

While Senator Mallam Ali Wakili said the commission's headquarters be sited in Bauchi, Senator Bashir Baba Kaka Garbai insisted that it should be in Maiduguri.

Also, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume and Senator Usman Nafada representing Gombe North senatorial district amongst others from the North-east zone disagreed on the location of the headquarters of the proposed NEDC

Nafada lobbied for the headquarters to be in Gombe state being the central state of the North east.

The disagreement over the location compelled the Upper Chamber to step down the debate on the commission.

Abdulazeez Nyako, the chairman of the Senate committee on special duties, while presenting the report on the bill which went through first reading last year failed to clearly define its source of funding as well as location of its headquarters.

In his ruling, Senate President Bukola Saraki, mandated the six-man committee to strive to reconcile the contending issues in the report so as to ensure its smooth passage.

He moved for the consideration of the report to be stood down to allow the committee to do its work and present it on another legislative day.

Members of the committee which is expected to report back in one week are senators Sam Egwu, Emmanuel Paulker, Abdulazeez Nyako, Aliu Wamako, Dino Melaye and Tayo Alaosadura.

-Elombah