In a historic move toward equitable growth, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the South-West Development Commission (SWDC) and South-South Development Commission (SSDC) bills, cementing a transformative step in Nigeria‘s regional development agenda. This action finalizes the creation of five new Regional Development Commissions (RDCs), a legislative triumph driven by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abass, and the National Assembly’s unified resolve.
The newly established commissions—comprising the South-West Development Commission (SWDC), South-South Development Commission (SSDC), North-West Development Commission (NWDC), South-East Development Commission (SEDC), and North-Central Development Commission (NCDC)—fall under the purview of the Ministry of Regional Development, formed in October 2024. This ministry is tasked with overseeing the commissions’ operations, ensuring alignment with their mandates, and fostering collaboration across regions. Each commission is designed to boost infrastructure, spur economic progress, and enhance social welfare within its zone.
The legislative journey began with the SWDC Bill, which the Senate passed in September 2024 with strong support before forwarding it to the House of Representatives for concurrence. Championed by Senator Gbenga Daniel of Ogun East, the bill targets infrastructure upgrades and industrialization to harness the South-West’s economic strengths. Meanwhile, the SSDC Bill, a priority under Akpabio’s leadership, cleared the Senate in October 2024. It focuses on tackling ecological damage and economic imbalances in the oil-rich South-South, a region long plagued by environmental and developmental challenges.
The rapid passage of these bills, complete with funding frameworks, highlights the National Assembly’s bipartisan commitment to regional equity. Akpabio’s stewardship has been pivotal, steering these initiatives through legislative hurdles to realization, while Speaker Abass’s support ensured robust backing in the House. Together, their efforts reflect a dedication to reforms that address Nigeria’s diverse regional needs.
Tinubu’s approval of the SWDC and SSDC bills completes a framework that now spans all major geopolitical zones, joining the earlier-established NWDC, SEDC, and NCDC. This milestone signals a strategic shift toward targeted interventions, with the South-West poised to leverage its commercial prowess and the South-South set to mitigate decades of ecological neglect. Stakeholders anticipate the commissions will become fully operational soon, delivering tangible results to validate this bold vision.
With the Ministry of Regional Development at the helm, Nigeria stands on the cusp of a coordinated push to bridge regional disparities, driven by legislative foresight and presidential resolve. This ambitious strategy promises measurable progress, positioning the country to address zone-specific challenges with precision and unity.
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