President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially signed the South-West and South-South Development Commission bills into law, completing the establishment of development commissions across all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. This landmark move, announced on Wednesday, March 26, during plenary by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, marks a significant step towards fostering regional development throughout the country.
Deputy Speaker Kalu highlighted the importance of these commissions, emphasizing their role in ensuring that the benefits of governance reach the grassroots. “No mechanism is too much to trickle down development and dividends of democracy to the grassroots,” Kalu said. “I am sure that with these development commissions, the impact of this administration will be felt by the grassroots.”
The newly established South-West and South-South Development Commissions are designed to oversee and implement development projects tailored to the specific needs of each region. These commissions are expected to focus on infrastructural development and economic initiatives aimed at addressing regional challenges and boosting local economies.
With the signing of these two new bills, every geopolitical zone in Nigeria now has a dedicated commission to spearhead regional development. This step follows the previous establishment of commissions for the South-East and North-West regions, which President Tinubu signed into law in July 2024. The creation of these commissions reflects the federal government’s continued commitment to fostering balanced development across the country.
The development commissions are set to receive dedicated funding to execute various projects aimed at improving both the economic and social conditions within their respective regions. The South-West and South-South zones, which cover key areas of Nigeria’s economy, will benefit from targeted initiatives that address regional disparities and encourage sustainable growth.
