The Leader of the Senate, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, has disclosed how federal lawmakers from the South-west states successfully lobbied their colleagues to pass the Bill for the establishment of the South West Development Commission (SWDC).
As the Leader of the South-west National Assembly Caucus, Bamidele acknowledged the significant contribution of South-west All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers to the progress and stability of the National Assembly.
In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, following the 2024 South-west Assembly of the APC in Lagos, Bamidele explained the collaborative efforts of the South-west caucus with federal lawmakers from other geo-political zones.
He said that the partnership secured majority support for the Bill’s passage in the upper chamber.
Bamidele highlighted the considerable influence of the South-west caucus in the 10th National Assembly, with 15 out of 18 senators from the geo-political zones being APC members.
According to him, this makes the South-west the largest single bloc of APC senators in the Senate.
The Senate leader noted that the push for the SWDC’s establishment was a matter of equity, as other regions have similar commissions.
He praised the collective efforts of South West National Assembly members, regardless of party affiliation, in securing the Bill’s passage.
Bamidele stated, “We are now awaiting concurrence from the House of Representatives before transmitting it to the President for assent.”
He acknowledged the commitment of colleagues from other political parties to the region’s success, emphasising the importance of unity in achieving development goals.
“This bill and many others, remind us that when it comes to the development of our people, there is no room for division. We must continue to work together to achieve more,” he concluded.
