The former Governor of Bayelsa state who currently resides as Senator of Bayelsa west, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has made a valid case at the floor of the senate, in favour of the establishment of the South South Development Commission (SSDC).
Agitating strongly at the Red Chambers on Thursday, Senator Dickson said the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is a body created to address the pressing issues emanating from the oil producing communities, that it was not formed as a geopolitical developmental agent or commission.
State reporters earlier informed that other geopolitical zones in the country have development agencies with the South East Development Commission just recently been approved.
Senator Dickson highlighted the differences between the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the South South Development Commission (SSDC), which the NDDC have been largely understood by Nigerians to cover for the South South states.
Dickson explained that the NDDC is a resource based and not a development based geopolitical agent for the South-South as its membership and beneficiaries cut across the South West and South East.
He convinced the senate that the SSDC bill when passed shall provide even development to the six states in the zone which are; Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwaibom and Cross river states, whether they produce oil or not.
He appealed for the bill to be given a favorable consideration.
Senator Dickson made the accelerating case in support of his colleague Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Cross Rivers South, on the need for the establishment of a South South Development Commission.
Meanwhile, the SSDC bill has passed second reading on the floor of the senate.
