Saraki, Dogara Commend Buhari for Signing NEDC Bill into Law

James Emejo in Abuja

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Bill.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu described the presidential assent as a “major development in the efforts by the present administration to restore peace and normalcy in the North-east and making the harrowing experience of the people as a result of the insurgency a thing of the past.

“I applaud President Buhari for signing the North-east Development Commission Bill into law. Now, that the NEDC Act has the full force and effect of the law, it is my hope that we can collectively work towards the rehabilitation, reconstruction and rebuilding of the North-east.

“I believe the NEDC Act will help alleviate the suffering of the millions of Nigerians whose lives have been affected by the insurgency in the zone,” the Senate President stated.

“You will recall that when I visited Maiduguri, I promised that the National Assembly will work and pass law to alleviate the suffering of the people. I thank God, Mr. President, my colleagues and members of the House of Representatives for making the promise a reality,” he said.

On his part, Dogara in a statement which he personally signed, the speaker hailed Buhari’s sensitivity to the plight of the highly traumatised people of the North-east.

He said: “I expect that the expeditious coming into force of the commission will remedy the long years of underdevelopment suffered by the region. The recovery and redevelopment of the zone devastated by terrorism is expected to last decades.”

The NEDC establishment bill was sponsored by the Speaker in 2015 and further moved a motion for which the House passed a resolution calling for the recovery, resettlement, and rebuilding of the violence ravaged region and the convocation of an international donor conference for total reconstruction and rebuilding of the region.