Senate Committee Investigates North West Development Commission’s Operational Challenges
The Senate Committee on Regional Development recently held an investigative session to scrutinize the operations of the North West Development Commission (NWDC). The committee raised several concerns, including the delayed appointment of executive directors, alleged governance challenges, and the significant expenditure of about N943m on board allowances.
During the session, lawmakers questioned why the NWDC remained the only regional development commission without executive directors, despite being among the first to be established under an Act of the National Assembly. The committee chairman, Babangida Hussaini, emphasized the need for urgent action to ensure the commission can function effectively.
Financial and Governance Concerns
The committee also examined the financial records and governance structure of the NWDC. They highlighted administrative lapses that were slowing down development interventions in the North-West, a region facing ongoing insecurity and infrastructure deficits. The committee expressed concern over the commission’s financial management and the excessive spending on board-related allowances.
Lawmakers questioned how the board could claim a lack of funding while embarking on official visits to governors and other stakeholders. Hussaini specifically criticized the payment of duty tour allowance to the Managing Director for a visit to the Kano State governor, even though the commission’s headquarters are located in Kano.
He pointed out that documents indicated that out of N1.19bn spent by the commission, N943m was used for allowances paid to members of the governing board, representing about 79 per cent of the expenditure under the subhead. This figure was described as disturbing and inconsistent with the objective of establishing the commission to drive development across the North-West.
Responses from Officials
In response, the Chairman of the Governing Board, Prof Abdullahi Ma’aji, defended the board’s activities, stating they were in line with the provisions of the North West Development Commission Act, 2024. He mentioned that the board had held seven meetings, five regular and two emergency sessions, during which it adopted 63 resolutions aimed at establishing the commission’s institutional and policy framework.
Ma’aji emphasized that committee activities and sitting allowances constituted legitimate governance expenses under the enabling Act. However, he noted that while the board authorized governance expenses, responsibility for processing payments rested with the commission’s management, particularly the managing director and finance department.
Ongoing Challenges and Calls for Accountability
Despite these efforts, the board chairman complained about the non-implementation of board resolutions, communication gaps, and delays in executing key operational decisions, which he said had hampered the smooth take-off of the commission. Several senators insisted that the ministry must take responsibility for the failure to complete the commission’s management structure, particularly the appointment of executive directors.
They argued that the prolonged vacancies had undermined the effectiveness of the NWDC at a time when the North-West urgently requires coordinated development interventions to tackle insecurity and other socio-economic challenges.
Lawmakers also expressed concern over delays in staff recruitment and implementation of the commission’s capital budget, despite approvals reportedly granted since February.
Next Steps
At the end of the public session, the committee resolved to proceed into a closed-door executive session to consider sensitive issues and obtain further clarifications from the officials. The hearing forms part of the Senate’s ongoing oversight of the newly established regional development commissions, which were created to accelerate infrastructure development, economic recovery, and peace-building across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
