In a momentous stride towards Nigeria’s regional development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made history by signing into law the South-West Development Commission (SWDC) and South-South Development Commission (SSDC) bills.
This action completes the establishment of five new Regional Development Commissions (RDCs), fulfilling a legislative priority championed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Abass and the National Assembly.
The new commissions; the South-West Development Commission (SWDC), the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), the North-West Development Commission (NWDC), the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) and the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC), are under the oversight of the Ministry of Regional Development, created in October 2024.
The ministry is responsible for coordinating the activities of the commissions, ensuring they adhere to their mandates, and facilitating inter-regional collaboration. The established regional commissions are tasked with enhancing infrastructure, economic growth, and social welfare within their regions.
In September 2024, the Senate passed the SWDC Bill with majority backing, then sent it to the House of Representatives for approval. Senator Gbenga Daniel from Ogun East sponsored the bill. Similarly, the SSDC Bill was passed in October 2024 and forwarded to the House of Representatives.
The South-South Development Commission Bill, a legislative priority under Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s leadership, aims to address ecological degradation and economic disparities in Nigeria’s oil-producing region. The South-West Commission will focus on infrastructure development and industrialisation, leveraging the region’s economic potential.
The swift passage of the bills for RDCs, including funding mechanisms, by the National Assembly, underscores the strong bipartisan support for regional development. Senate President Akpabio’s leadership in advancing these bills and ensuring their signage into law reflects his commitment to legislative reforms that promote equitable development across all regions of Nigeria.
President Tinubu’s assent to the SWDC and SSDC bills marks a milestone in Nigeria’s push for regional equity. With Senate President Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abass’s legislative stewardship and the National Assembly’s bipartisan support, the RDC framework positions Nigeria to tackle zone-specific challenges through targeted interventions. With the president’s assent, stakeholders can expect the commissions to be fully operational in the coming months, with measurable outcomes to validate this ambitious regional development strategy.