Reps move to establish commission for North East

• Legislators want Dec 10 as national air safety day
THE House of Representatives yesterday passed a piece of legislation which seeks to facilitate the establishment of North East Development Commission with the mandate to receive and manage allocations from the Federation Account as well as aid from international donors for settlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency.

The bill, sponsored by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, was endorsed at plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker, Sulaimon Yusuf Lasun.

Dogara, who for the second time stepped down and took a seat on the floor to lead debate on the bill, said the challenges affecting the North-East were enormous and must, therefore, be given priority by the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers have urged government to set aside December 10 of every year as National Air Safety Day in memory of the students of Loyola Jesuit College who died in the December 10, 2005 Sosoliso air crash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The House, at its resumed session, yesterday, said the date would also serve as a memorial for other victims of air crashes in Nigeria.

The parliament also urged government to “carry out a review of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) report on the Sosoliso plane crash and other crashes that have occurred in Nigeria from 2005 with a view to ensuring the implementation of recommendations contained therein.”

The House resolution followed adoption of the prayers of a motion introduced by Wale Raji who brought the issue under matters of urgent national importance.

The motion titled, “Need to set aside December 10 of every year as National Air Safety Day in memory of the students of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja and other victims of air mishaps in Nigeria” was passed when the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, put the question to a voice vote.

It was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Aviation for further legislative action in collaboration with the relevant MDAs to ensure compliance.