ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Senate has expressed concern over the operations of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), questioning the payment of about N943 million in board allowances, the prolonged delay in appointing executive directors and what lawmakers described as governance and administrative lapses within the commission.
The concerns were raised during an investigative session of the Senate Committee on Regional Development with officials of the commission and the Federal Ministry of Regional Development.
Lawmakers said documents before the committee showed that out of approximately N1.19 billion spent under a particular expenditure category, about N943 million representing nearly 79 per cent was paid as allowances to members of the governing board.
The committee also questioned why the NWDC remains the only regional development commission operating without executive directors despite being among the earliest commissions established by an Act of the National Assembly.
Responding, the Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, attributed part of the commission’s challenges to disagreements over its operational headquarters in Kano.
He explained that the commission initially operated from office facilities donated by private organisations before disputes emerged over which location should serve as its permanent headquarters.
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According to the minister, the Kano State Government has now provided a fully furnished office complex, operational vehicles and land for the commission, adding that the ministry, management and governing board formally took over the facility last week and ordered the closure of all other offices to end the controversy.
Ahmadu acknowledged that the absence of executive directors has weakened the commission’s management structure and slowed its operations.
He noted that although the governing board was inaugurated in February 2025 to facilitate the commission’s take-off, the agency has continued to struggle with operational setbacks.
The minister compared the situation with other regional development commissions, saying state governments in Enugu, Oyo and Nasarawa had provided office accommodation without similar disputes.
Beyond leadership issues, senators also scrutinised the commission’s financial records, delayed board meetings and expenditure profile.
Lawmakers questioned claims that the commission lacked adequate funding while its officials continued embarking on visits to governors and stakeholders.
They specifically demanded an explanation for the payment of duty tour allowances to the Managing Director for a visit to the Governor of Kano State, despite the commission’s headquarters being located in the same city.
The committee queried reported claims for air tickets, local transportation and other logistics associated with what lawmakers described as a local official engagement.
Members of the committee maintained that such spending contradicted the commission’s core mandate of addressing development challenges, infrastructure deficits and insecurity across the North-West.
Defending the board, Chairman **Abdullahi Lawal** said its activities were carried out in line with the provisions of the **North West Development Commission Act, 2024**.
He disclosed that the board had convened seven meetings—five regular and two emergency sessions—during which it approved 63 resolutions covering operational guidelines, committee structures, budget frameworks and fund allocation principles for the region.
Lawal, however, clarified that while the board approved governance-related expenditures, responsibility for processing payments rested with the commission’s management, particularly the Managing Director and finance department.
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He also accused the management of failing to implement several board resolutions, citing communication gaps and delays in executing key decisions needed for the commission’s effective take-off.
Several senators insisted that the Federal Ministry of Regional Development must take responsibility for the continued delay in appointing executive directors, warning that the leadership vacuum was undermining the commission’s ability to deliver on its development mandate.
The lawmakers also expressed concern over delays in staff recruitment and implementation of the commission’s capital projects despite approvals reportedly granted months ago.
Following the exchanges, the committee resolved to proceed into a closed executive session to consider sensitive matters and obtain further clarifications from the ministry and commission officials.