The Senate, on Thursday, passed for the third reading the bill seeking the establishment of the North Central Development Commission.

The development excited the Middle Belt Forum, which applauded the lawmakers.

The bill was sponsored by the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Abba Moro, and other senators from the North Central region.

The bill was first sponsored in the 9th Assembly and passed the first and second readings but could not get the presidential assent before the expiration of the 9th Senate.

In his lead debate, Moro,  who is the Senate Minority Leader,  said the North Central Development Commission, when established, would be saddled with the responsibility of receiving and managing funds from the Federal Government and donors for the resettlement rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of flood, farmers-herders clashes and communal conflicts.

Such funds, he said, would also be used for the reconstruction of roads, houses, business premises as well as large format drainage systems to control flooding in the North Central.

Moro said the commission would also use such funds for the dredging of rivers Niger and Benue to control flood and tackle the menace of poverty, illiteracy and other related environmental or developmental challenges facing the North Central.

The passage of the bill for the third reading on Thursday followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Special Duties submitted during plenary.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, congratulated Moro and others who contributed to the success of the bill.

He expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu would assent to the bill for the overall development of North Central Nigeria, which comprises Kogi, Niger, Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Speaking with The PUNCH in Jos on Thursday, the President of Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, described the passage of the bill as long overdue considering the devastation that had taken place in the region

Pogu said, “The passage of the bill is a welcome development.

I’m happy. The senators, being mature people, have realised that the devastation in the North Central through insurgency and some other things have brought the people of the region to a situation that calls for special intervention by the Federal Government.

“In their wisdom, they have sought for the North Central Development Commission. I commend them for that singular action because indeed, the North Central needs intervention.”