Federal legislators from across Niger Delta states have announced the formation of the Niger Delta Legislative Caucus (NDLC), a cross-party parliamentary group that will coordinate voting blocs and legislative strategy on issues affecting the region, from oil revenue allocation to environmental remediation and infrastructure development.
The caucus, which has 64 members drawn from both the Senate and the House of Representatives across party lines, represents the most significant formal legislative coordination effort from the region in over a decade.
Convener and Senator representing Delta North, Senator Ned Nwoko, said the caucus was not anti-government but was firmly pro-Niger Delta. We are elected to represent our people. When bills that affect revenue sharing, environmental regulation, or energy policy come before the National Assembly, Niger Delta legislators must speak with one voice, he said.
The NDLC plans to submit a comprehensive Niger Delta Legislative Agenda document to the National Assembly leadership, containing 24 priority bills and amendments it intends to pursue in the remainder of the current legislative session.
Legal analysts say coordinated legislative blocks from Niger Delta members could be decisive in votes on the Petroleum Industry Act amendments, the proposed review of the revenue sharing formula, and new legislation on oil spill liability currently before the House Committee on Environment.
