Reps to Buhari: Set up N/E Devt Commission

The House of Representatives yesterday urged the President to set up the machinery for the establishment of a North East Development Commission, through an Executive Bill  to take care of the reconstruction, rehabilitation, recovery and development of the North East zone with robust financing mechanisms which shall include a percentage of the reserved fund.
To enable the Speaker move this motion at plenary session, the House temporary suspended the rules of the House which paved way for the deputy Speaker Rt. Hon Yusuf Lasun to preside over the plenary session during the period the motion lasted.

In his presentation, Hon. Dogara on behalf of other 88 Hon Members in the House who joined in sponsoring the motion said that the terrorist activities of Boko Haram sect in most part of the North East zone/Region of Nigeria comprising Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe as well as Bauchi and Taraba States since 2009 had devastated most parts of the Region and resulted in the death of thousands of people.
Hon.   Dogara who expressed sadness over this development, told the House that the terrorist activities have resulted in wanton destruction of both public and private property as well as burning down of entire villages, including places of worship.
Dogara whose heart was full of sorrow over the degrading treatment melted out on women and children in which they were forced into sexual slavery, forced marriages and child recruitment, equally told the House that the terrorist activities have led to the displacements of about 5 million people and creation of Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) camps in many parts of the country  with vast majority of  women and children.