Senate Investigates NWDC’s Financial and Administrative Challenges
The Senate recently held an investigative session with officials from the North West Development Commission (NWDC) and the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, raising concerns over the payment of approximately N943 million in board allowances and the prolonged delay in appointing executive directors. These issues have significantly impacted the agency’s operations and effectiveness.
During the session, the Senate Committee on Regional Development highlighted that the NWDC remains the only regional development commission without executive directors, despite being one of the first established by an Act of the National Assembly. This lack of leadership has been described as a major obstacle to effective administration.
Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, attributed some of the commission’s challenges to a long-standing dispute over its office accommodation in Kano. He explained that the commission initially operated from offices donated by private organizations, but disagreements over which facility should serve as its headquarters led to friction between the governing board and management.
According to the minister, the Kano State Government has now provided a fully furnished office complex, operational vehicles, and a parcel of land for the commission. He revealed that the ministry, board, and management formally took over the facility last week and directed that all other offices be shut to resolve the controversy.
“The North West Development Commission is the only commission that does not yet have executive directors. Every other regional commission has its full management structure in place. Something urgent must be done for the commission to function effectively,” Ahmadu said.
He added that the absence of executive directors had weakened the commission’s management structure and contributed to its operational difficulties since its inauguration. The minister noted that the board was inaugurated in February 2025 to fast-track the commission’s take-off, but it has continued to face various challenges.
Ahmadu also pointed out that, unlike the situation in Kano, state governments in Enugu, Oyo, and Nasarawa had provided office accommodation for their respective regional development commissions without controversy.
Financial Concerns and Expenditure Disputes
The committee shifted focus to the commission’s finances, questioning delays in convening board meetings, financial records, and the scale of expenditure on board-related allowances. One senator questioned how the board could claim to have no cash backing while embarking on official visits to governors and other stakeholders.
Another lawmaker raised concerns about the payment of duty tour allowance to the Managing Director for a visit to the Governor of Kano State, despite the commission’s headquarters being located in Kano. The senator questioned why the trip reportedly attracted claims for air tickets, local transportation, and other running costs for what should have been a local engagement.
The committee expressed particular concern over documents showing that N943 million out of N1.19 billion spent by the commission went to allowances for members of the governing board, representing nearly 79 per cent of the expenditure under that subhead. Lawmakers described the spending as disturbing and inconsistent with the commission’s mandate to accelerate development in the North West, particularly in addressing insecurity and infrastructure deficits.
Board Chairman Defends Expenditure
Chairman of the Governing Board, Abdullahi Lawal, defended the expenditure, insisting that the board acted within the provisions of the North West Development Commission Act, 2024. He stated that the board had held seven meetings—five regular and two emergency—during which it adopted 63 resolutions to establish the commission’s institutional and policy framework.
According to him, the board approved standing orders, operational guidelines, committee structures, budget frameworks, and principles for fund allocation across the seven North-West states. Lawal maintained that committee activities and sitting allowances were legitimate governance expenses under the enabling law.
He, however, distinguished between approval of expenditure and actual disbursement of funds, saying responsibility for processing payments rested with the commission’s management, particularly the Managing Director and finance officials.
Management Accountability and Calls for Action
The board chairman also accused the management of failing to implement several board resolutions, citing communication gaps and delays in executing key operational decisions. Several senators insisted that the Federal Ministry of Regional Development must take responsibility for failing to complete the commission’s management structure by appointing executive directors.
They also expressed concern over delays in staff recruitment and in the implementation of the commission’s capital budget, despite approvals reportedly granted since February. The lawmakers stressed that the NWDC was created to tackle development challenges and insecurity in the North-West and should not be distracted by administrative disputes and governance lapses.
At the end of the hearing, the committee resolved to move into a closed-door session to consider sensitive issues and to receive further clarifications from the ministry and commission officials.
