Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Senate Committee on Regional Development has launched a probe into the operations of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), raising serious concerns over the payment of approximately N943 million in board allowances amid a lingering leadership crisis and the delayed appointment of executive directors. The committee's investigative session, held on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, with officials of the commission and the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, exposed what lawmakers described as disturbing financial records and governance challenges threatening the commission's ability to deliver on its mandate.
According to documents presented before the committee, the NWDC spent a total of N1.19 billion, out of which N943 million—representing nearly 79 per cent of the expenditure under the relevant subhead—went to allowances for members of the governing board. The committee chairman, Senator Babangida Hussaini, expressed alarm at the figures, describing the spending pattern as inconsistent with the commission's core mandate to tackle infrastructure deficits and insecurity across the North-West. "The committee was particularly alarmed by documents indicating that out of N1.19bn spent by the commission, N943m was used for allowances paid to members of the governing board, representing about 79 per cent of the expenditure under the subhead," Hussaini said.
Lawmakers also expressed concern that the NWDC remains the only regional development commission without a full management structure, despite being among the first established by an Act of the National Assembly. The commission was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu on February 11, 2025, yet several months later, it has yet to appoint executive directors and other key officials. The Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Ahmadu, acknowledged the problem during the session, stating: "The North West Development Commission is the only commission that does not yet have executive directors. Every other regional commission has its full management structure in place. Something has to be done urgently so that the commission can function effectively." He added that the absence of executive directors had weakened the commission's administrative structure and contributed to the operational difficulties that have trailed its inauguration.
The minister traced some of the commission's operational challenges to a prolonged dispute over the location of its headquarters in Kano. According to Ahmadu, the NWDC initially operated from offices donated by private organisations, but disagreements between the board and management over which facility should serve as the commission's headquarters fuelled a prolonged crisis. He disclosed that the Kano State Government has now donated a fully furnished office complex, operational vehicles, and a parcel of land to the commission, and that the ministry, the board, and management jointly took over the new facility last week, directing the closure of all other offices to end the dispute. "Unlike the situation in Kano, other regional commissions received office accommodation from host state governments in Enugu, Oyo, and Nasarawa without controversy," the minister noted.
During the hearing, senators also scrutinised the commission's financial records and raised concerns over delays in convening board meetings, the justification for official expenditures, and the slow implementation of the commission's capital budget despite approvals reportedly granted months ago. Some lawmakers questioned how the board could claim it lacked adequate funding while simultaneously embarking on visits to governors and other stakeholders. They specifically queried the payment of Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), air tickets, local transportation, and other logistics to the Managing Director for a visit to the Governor of Kano State, despite the commission's headquarters being located in Kano.
In his defence, the Chairman of the Governing Board, Professor Abdullahi Ma'aji, insisted that the board's expenditures were authorised under the North West Development Commission Act, 2024. He said the board had held seven meetings, comprising five regular and two emergency sessions, during which it adopted 63 resolutions to establish the commission's governance and operational framework. According to him, the board approved standing orders, operational guidelines, committee structures, budget frameworks, and principles for allocating funds among the seven North-West states. Ma'aji maintained that committee activities and sitting allowances were legitimate governance expenses provided for by law.
However, he drew a distinction between approving expenditures and making payments, explaining that while the board authorised legitimate expenses, actual disbursement rested with the commission's management, particularly the Managing Director and finance department. The board chairman also accused the management of failing to implement several board resolutions, citing poor communication and delays in execution. Despite these explanations, senators insisted that the ministry must take responsibility for the failure to complete the commission's management structure, especially the appointment of executive directors.
At the conclusion of the public hearing, the committee resolved to move into a closed-door executive session to consider sensitive matters and receive additional clarifications from the ministry and commission officials. The investigation is part of the Senate's ongoing oversight of regional development commissions created to accelerate infrastructure development, economic recovery, and peace-building across Nigeria's six geo-political zones. For the North-West Development Commission, the path forward remains uncertain. With a leadership vacuum, a headquarters dispute now resolved, and a financial record that has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers, the commission faces an uphill battle to regain public trust and deliver on its mandate to address the pressing challenges of insecurity and infrastructure deficits in one of Nigeria's most troubled regions.
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