The Nigerian Senate found itself embroiled in a contentious debate over the funding strategy for the newly established Zonal Development Commissions.
This discussion was particularly focused on the South-South Development Commission Establishment bill, which is intended to serve as a model for other regional commissions.
The crux of the disagreement stemmed from a proposal by the Senate Committee on Special Duties.
The committee recommended that 15% of statutory allocations from member states should be used to fund these commissions through the federal government.
This suggestion sparked concerns among several senators, including Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP Kebbi North), Wasiu Eshinlokun (APC Lagos East), and Seriake Dickson (PDP Bayelsa West). They warned that such a move could lead to a "constitutional crisis," with state governors potentially challenging the federal government in court.
Senator Abdullahi emphasized, “The 15% of statutory allocations of member States, recommended for funding of their zonal development commissions, would be litigated against by some state governments.”
In response to these concerns, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin sought to clarify the proposal. He explained that the 15% allocation would not involve direct deductions from the states' statutory funds. Instead, it would be calculated by the federal government and sourced from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Jibrin stated, “The 15% of Statutory allocation of member states, recommended for funding of Zonal Development Commissions by the federal government, is not about deduction at all.”
Despite this clarification, skepticism lingered among some senators regarding the feasibility of funding the commissions without affecting state allocations. To address the ongoing tension, Senate President Godswill Akpabio reassured his colleagues, highlighting the National Assembly's authority under section 162 (subsection 4) of the 1999 constitution. He asserted, “15% of statutory allocation of member states has been recommended by the Senate and by extension, National Assembly, for funding of their zonal development commission by the federal government, anybody who wants to go to court over that may do so.”
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