President Bola Tinubu has officially signed into law the North-West and South-East Development Commission Bills, marking a significant legislative milestone aimed at addressing the unique development challenges in these regions of Nigeria.
The enactment of these bills is seen as a crucial step towards enhancing infrastructure and tackling longstanding issues arising from years of insecurity and neglect.
The North-West Development Commission Bill, introduced by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, targets the seven states within the North-West region. The region has faced significant developmental setbacks due to Boko Haram insurgency, armed banditry, and other forms of criminality.
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Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Senator Barau expressed his appreciation to President Tinubu for signing the bill into law.
“The Commission will assist in the development of the geo-political zone in terms of required infrastructure, production of food, etc. It would be recalled that Boko Haram, kidnappers, and bandits ravaged the zone like the North-East with an attendant drop in development indices. With the assent to the bill, the coast is now clear for the rebuilding of the zone,” he said.
Meanwhile, the South-East Development Commission Bill, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin sigKalu also received presidential assent. This legislation is designed to address critical issues such as environmental degradation, particularly erosion, as well as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads in the Southeast states, including Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, and Anambra.
Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, announced the signing on social media, celebrating the milestone as a victory for the South-East region:
“Ndi Igbo, this government loves us. Congratulations to my principal, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu (Enyi Abia), who champions this cause. Congratulations to Ndi Igbo worldwide.”
The passage of these bills follows a protracted debate on the necessity of regional development commissions, especially in the Southeast, where the legacy of the Nigerian Civil War continues to hamper infrastructure development. The establishment of the South-East Development Commission is viewed by many as an essential move toward addressing historical grievances, promoting regional development, and fostering peace in a region marked by secessionist movements.
However, the creation of these new commissions has not been without concerns. There is a prevailing skepticism among some stakeholders regarding the potential effectiveness of these bodies.
This skepticism is largely rooted in the experiences with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which was established to address the developmental needs of the Niger Delta region but has been mired in allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Reports of malfeasance within the NDDC, including the misappropriation of funds and lack of transparency, have raised concerns about whether the newly established commissions will be able to avoid similar pitfalls.
The NDDC’s struggles with corruption have cast a long shadow over the potential effectiveness of the North-West and South-East Development Commissions. Many fear that without robust oversight and transparent governance, these new bodies could fall prey to the same issues that have plagued the NDDC, failing to deliver the much-needed development and relief to their respective regions.
Based on these concerns, there are calls for significant scrutiny of the ability of these development commissions to implement projects efficiently, manage funds transparently, and genuinely address the developmental challenges in their respective regions. The success of these commissions will be pivotal not only in improving the quality of life in the North-West and South-East but also in restoring public trust in government-led development initiatives.
The coming months will determine whether these new commissions can rise above the challenges that have hampered similar bodies in the past. The Nigerian government, under Tinubu’s leadership, now faces the challenging task of ensuring that these commissions fulfill their intended purpose.