Funding For Zonal Development Commissions Divides Senate

A spirited debate erupted among Senators regarding the funding sources for the various Zonal Development Commissions established by the Senate in collaboration with the House of Representatives.

During the plenary session, Senators voted to remove specific provisions from Section 23 of the establishment bills that conferred operational immunity on the boards and executives of these commissions.

The discussion centred around the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, which served as a framework for the other commissions. The Senate Committee on Special Duties recommended that the federal government allocate 15% of the statutory allocations from member states to fund the commissions.

However, several Senators, including Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North), Wasiu Eshinlokun (APC, Lagos East), and Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), raised concerns about this recommendation.

Senator Abdullahi warned that the provision could lead to legal challenges from state governments, as no state would willingly accept reductions in their statutory allocations to support a zonal development commission. “Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the 15% statutory allocation proposed for funding these zonal development commissions could provoke litigation from state governments,” he stated.

In response to the growing concerns, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, quickly intervened to clarify the interpretation of the 15% allocation. He explained that the funding would not involve any deductions from the states’ statutory allocations.

“Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, the recommended 15% of statutory allocations for funding Zonal Development Commissions is not a deduction,” Barau asserted. “Instead, it is a calculation by the federal government, derived from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.”

He elaborated that each state receives a monthly statutory allocation, and the federal government would calculate 15% of this amount to fund the development commissions.

Despite Barau’s clarifications, many Senators remained unconvinced and expressed a desire to speak on the matter. However, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, ruled that the provision was constitutionally sound and should not warrant further debate.

“We need not discuss whether the 15% allocation would be deducted, as Section 162 (subsection 4) of the 1999 Constitution empowers the National Assembly to appropriate funds from either the Consolidated Revenue Fund or the Federation Account,” he stated. “Anyone wishing to challenge this in court is welcome.”

Following this, Akpabio called for a voice vote on adopting the provision, which passed in favour.

After the bills were approved, Akpabio thanked the Senators for their dedication in reviewing the Zonal Development Commission measures, emphasising their importance for the newly established Ministry of Regional Development.

The bills considered and passed included the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, the North West Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, the South East Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, as well as the South West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 and the North Central Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, which had been passed earlier.