On Wednesday, a bill proposing Anambra State’s membership in the Niger Delta Development Commission was rejected by the Senate.

Senator Tony Nwoye, who represents Anambra North, sponsored the bill.

Nwoye asserted in his presentation that Anambra State should be a part of the NDDC since it is an oil-producing state that receives 13 percent of derivative revenues.

Nwoye said, “Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, Anambra as an oil-producing state has been collecting 13 per cent derivation for the oil exploited from her wells by the Federal Government since 2021, and eminently deserves to be included in the operational radius of NDDC.

“Kogi State was also declared as an oil-producing state, but has not been collecting any 13 per cent derivation.”

Despite this, majority of senators who offered their opinions during the bill’s second reading debate disregarded Nwoye’s position.

They pointed out that there were other requirements for joining the NDDC besides just being an oil-producing state. Noting that Anambra is not a part of the Niger Delta region, to which the NDDC was primarily founded as an organization serving those states’ interests.

Senator Jibrin Isah, who represents Kogi East, in particular, criticized Nwoye for including Kogi in his argument.

In contrast to Nwoye’s assertion, Isah stated that Kogi, being an oil-producing state, has also been benefiting from 13 percent derivative since 2022.

The Kogi lawmaker said, “Senator Nwoye, with all due respect, please stop dragging Kogi State into your argument for membership of Anambra State in the NDDC. Kogi State is an oil-producing state and has also been collecting 13 per cent derivation since October 2022.”

Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, also criticized Nwoye’s reasoning, pointing out that if being an oil-producing state was the only factor in being joined to the NDDC, Lagos, which has two oil wells in Badagry, ought to have been demanding to be included.

The National Boundary Commission, according to Akpabio, would have to make the decision regarding Nwoye’s argument that Anambra State qualified because of its closeness to the Niger Delta region, even if the NDDC was viewed as a geographical or regional interventionist organization.

Subsequently, he called for voice voting on the bill’s passing for a second reading, with the senators who voted against it outnumbering those who supported it.

The bill was thereby dropped by the Red Chamber.