The Senate Committee on Regional Development has launched a sharp investigation into the North West Development Commission, raising serious concerns about its spending priorities and operational readiness barely months after inauguration.
Lawmakers expressed dismay that nearly 79 percent of the N1.19 billion expended by the commission, amounting to approximately N943 million was channeled into board allowances.
The committee also queried why the NWDC remains the only regional development commission without executive directors and full staff complement since its inauguration in February 2025, despite its critical mandate to drive development and address security challenges in the North West zone.
Officials from the overseeing ministry, alongside the NWDC board and Managing Director, appeared before the committee to explain operational hurdles. However, senators insisted that urgent remedial steps are required for the commission to effectively deliver on its core objectives of fostering socio-economic growth and enhancing security in the region.
This development comes as regional development commissions across Nigeria face heightened legislative scrutiny over fiscal prudence and delivery capacity.In a related case, the South East Development Commission (SEDC) has also come under intense Senate examination over its handling of a ₦16.6 billion budget allocation for the 2025 fiscal year.
Lawmakers, particularly through the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission, have grilled SEDC leadership over issues including alleged high administrative costs, such as reported spending of ₦153 million on an Abuja liaison office, and discrepancies in financial disclosures. The committee has demanded detailed clarifications and additional documentation, highlighting broader concerns about transparency and value for money in these interventionist agencies.
Analysts note that these probes underscore growing legislative insistence on accountability as the various zonal development commissions seek to justify their existence and substantial public funding amid Nigeria’s persistent regional challenges.
Further hearings are expected as both the NWDC and SEDC work to address the lawmakers’ queries.
