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Senators divided over source of funding for regional commissions
Lawmakers in the Red Chamber were divided on Thursday over the source of funding for the newly created Zonal Development Commissions.
The argument unfolded as the Senate and House of Representatives moved forward with legislation to establish these commissions, which were also stripped of operational immunity for their boards and executives.
The disagreement emerged during the clause-by-clause consideration of the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, which serves as the structural template for other zonal commissions.
Central to the debate was the Senate Committee on Special Duties’ recommendation that 15% of statutory allocations from member states be directed toward funding these commissions.
Several Senators, including Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North), Wasiu Eshinlokun (APC, Lagos East), and Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), voiced concerns over the proposed funding model.
Senator Abdullahi warned that the provision could lead to legal challenges from state governments, as no state would willingly allow its statutory allocation to be reduced.
“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the 15% of statutory allocations of member states recommended for funding their zonal development commissions would be litigated against by some state governments,” Abdullahi said.
Seeking to clarify the matter, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, quickly intervened.
He explained that the 15% allocation would not involve a direct deduction from the states’ funds.
He said, “Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the 15% of statutory allocation of member states, recommended for funding of Zonal Development Commissions by the federal government, is not about deduction at all.
“What is recommended, as contained in the report presented to us by the Committee on Special Duties and being considered by the Senate now, is that 15% of the statutory allocation of member states in a zonal development commission would, by way of calculation by the federal government, be used to fund the commission from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
“Each state has a monthly statutory allocation, 15% of which, as contained in this report being considered, will be calculated by the federal government and removed from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for funding of their Development Commission.”
Despite Barau’s explanation, several senators remained unconvinced and expressed their desire to contribute to the debate.
However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stepped in, asserting that the provision was constitutionally sound.
“We don’t need to debate whether 15% of statutory allocations from member states in a commission would be deducted,” Akpabio said, citing Section 162(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the National Assembly the authority to appropriate funds from either the Consolidated Revenue Fund or the Federation Account.
“Fifteen percent of the statutory allocation has been recommended by the Senate, and by extension, the National Assembly, for funding these zonal development commissions. Anyone who wishes to challenge that in court is free to do so,” he added.
Akpabio then called for a voice vote, and the majority voted in favour of the provision.
In his remarks following the passage of the consolidated bills, Akpabio expressed gratitude to the Senators for their efforts in finalising the Zonal Development Commissions.
He noted that these commissions would provide a foundation for the newly created Ministry of Regional Development.
The bills passed include the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, the North West Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the South-East Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024.
The South West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 and the North Central Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 were previously passed.
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Finally, Four Astronauts Return To Earth After Two-Month Delay By Boeing Capsule Trouble
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
SpaceX’s capsule carrying NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russia’s Alexander Grebenkin splashed down off Florida’s coast after a mid-week departure from the space station, AP reports.
After an extended stay aboard the International Space Station, four astronauts safely returned to Earth early Friday morning, landing in the Gulf of Mexico before dawn.
SpaceX’s capsule carrying NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Russia’s Alexander Grebenkin splashed down off Florida’s coast after a mid-week departure from the space station, AP reports.
Originally set to return two months ago, the crew’s homecoming was delayed due to issues with Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, which returned empty in September over safety concerns.
Hurricane Milton further pushed back their return, followed by high winds and rough seas.
Barratt, the only mission veteran, praised the ground team’s efforts, stating they had “to replan, retool and kind of redo everything right along with us … and helped us to roll with all those punches.”
The four astronauts launched in March and are now replaced by two Starliner test pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, and two other astronauts launched by SpaceX four weeks ago. This new crew will remain on board until February
With the astronauts’ return, the station now holds its usual crew size of seven, comprising four Americans and three Russians, following months of overflow.
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