Kogi State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the bill to establish the Kogi State Oil Producing Area Development Commission.
The passage followed clause by clause consideration of the bill at the committee of the whole at the assembly’s complex in Lokoja.
The provides for the framework for the composition and functions of the commission.
The bill also gave the state governor supervisory powers of the board of the commission.
In his progress report the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf said during the legislative scrutiny of the bill, several petition were received for and against the bill but after investigation, the petitions against the bill’s passage were dismissed as they were frivolous and geared towards scuttling the bill.
In an interview, the lawmaker representing Ibaji state constituency, Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola Egwaba expressed happiness and fulfilment that the bill was passed by the assembly.
She said the oil producing communities in Ibaji and the state at large stands to benefit from the thirteen percent derivation accruing from the oil exploration.
The lawmaker appreciated Governor Yahaya Bello for his commitment to ensuring that the people of the state benefit from resource.
