200 CSOs Support SSDC Act Amendment for Funding Expansion

On Wednesday, the 10th House of Representatives, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abba, commenced consideration of a bill aimed at amending the South South Development Commission (SSDC) Act. This amendment seeks to significantly broaden the commission's funding framework by providing additional revenue sources, including value-added tax (VAT) and contributions from extractive and agricultural companies operating within the region.

The South South Transform Coalition, representing 200 civil society organizations, presented a joint memorandum to the National Assembly, commending the House for its support of the bill. The proposed amendment is designed to strengthen the financial foundation of the SSDC, enabling it to effectively fulfill its mandate across the six South South states: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers.

The coalition's national coordinator, John Johnson, praised the House's commitment to expediting legislative action, emphasizing the importance of addressing the region's infrastructural and socio-economic challenges, particularly those arising from environmental degradation due to oil exploration.