Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong pushes bill for creation of South South development commission

The bill proposing the creation of the South South Development Commission has successfully passed its first reading. It is officially known as the Establishment Bill, 2024 (SB, 358), and is sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong representing Cross River South and co-sponsored by all South South Senators.

Senator Ekpenyong disclosed that the bill was necessitated rising from proposed Development Commissions for the North West, South West, North Central and South East. He noted that there are three other states in the NDDC that are not in the South-South region.
Abia and Imo States, which are part of the NDDC, are also included in the proposed South East Development Commission just as Ondo, which is part of the NDDC, is included in the proposed South West Development Commission.

The proposed South South Development Commission is necessary to ensure equity amongst the 6 geopolitical zones.