3rd February, 2017
The North-East Support Group for the creation of North East Development Commission (NEDC), has lauded members of the National Assembly for submitting the bill for the NEDC’s creation to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The leader of the pressure group, Mr Salisu Sabo, gave the commendation on Friday in Bauchi.
According to Sabo, the commission will adequately address the issue of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the region than the Presidential Initiative Committee.
“We commend the National Assembly for passing the North-East Development Commission Bill and forwarding it to Mr President.
“The commission will address the issue of reconstruction of the sub-region after the insurgency.
“The Bill, if passed into law, will ensure the continued development of the North-East, unlike the Presidential committee that could end after three or two years.
“As a result of the insurgency, 611 teachers lost their lives, 19,000 teachers are displaced and about 950,000 children have been denied the opportunity to access quality education,’’ he said.
Sabo said that through the establishment of the commission, international partners would coordinate donations and other relief materials to the people of the sub-region.
He said that the pressure group had no interest in where the NEDC office would be based.
The support group consists of 150 other groups from the North-East.