By Labofa Ukuta Ogoba
Senator Seriake Dickson, PDP, Bayelsa West has said the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC is a body created to manage the issues and crisis emanating from oil producing communities it has not a geopolitical commission.The lawmaker stated this on Thursday at the Plenary while explaining the case made by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, APC, Cross Rivers South, on the need for the establishment of a South-South Development Commission SSDC.
Senator Dickson explained that the Commission is resource- based and not a development based geopolitical body for the South-South as its membership and its beneficiaries cut across the South -West and South- East.
Dickson who is a former Governor of Bayelsa State convinced the Senate on how the SSDC bill is different from the NDDC stating that, the proposed SSDC bill will provide even development for all the states in the zone irrespective of whether they produce oil.
He appealed for the case being made to be given a favorable consideration.Meanwhile, the SSDC bill on Thursday passed second reading on the floor of the Senate.