Almost a week to the day it was rejected at a rowdy session in the House of Representatives, the bill for the establishment of the South East Development Commission Wednesday, passed the second reading in the Senate.
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, subsequently refereed the bill co-sponsored by Stella Oduah, PDP Anambra North and Samuel Anyanwu, PDP Imo East, to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters.
Mr. Saraki, who noted that the development and unity of the country goes beyond just a bill, ruled that the Committee should report back in four weeks.
“We have the responsibility to bring down tension, bring unity. In doing this, we are showing we listen to everybody but the issues go beyond this bill. More work needs to be done, there are people we are leading and we have to play our role. We have only one country,” the Senate President said.
Earlier in his lead debate, Senator Anyanwu said the bill will serves as a catalyst to “develop the commercial potential of the Southeast” and “enhance infrastructural development of the region.”
The House of Representatives had on June 1, rejected the bill after its third reading.
The bill was first read in the Senate on June 22, 2016 and had just passed through the second reading.
