The House of Representatives on Wednesday amended the South West Development Commission Establishment Bill by removing four key funding clauses. The bill, originally referred from the Senate, aims to establish a commission to manage funds for infrastructure rehabilitation and address ecological and developmental challenges in the South West region.
The deleted clauses (Section 14: b, c, d, and e) included provisions for funding from:
- 3% of the annual budget of federal seaports and airports in the South West.
- 3% of the total annual budget of oil-producing and gas processing companies in the region.
- 3% of the total annual budget of solid mineral mining companies operating in the South West.
- 50% of monies due to member states from the Ecological Fund.
These amendments significantly alter the bill’s original funding structure.
