President Bola Tinubu has issued a strong warning to the boards and management of Nigeria’s regional development commissions against corruption, marginalisation, politicisation and the misuse of government resources.
The President said his administration would not tolerate actions capable of undermining the objectives of the commissions and warned that anyone found culpable would face sanctions.
He gave the warning on Monday at the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) Summit, themed “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic Infrastructure and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region.”
Representing the President at the summit, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the establishment of regional development commissions was part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at accelerating development across Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu directed the SGF to ensure that all funds approved and accruable to the commissions are released as and when due.
“I therefore direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ensure that all funds accruable to the Commissions are released as and when due,” the President said.
He also pledged continued political and financial support for the NCDC and other regional development commissions to enable them to execute projects capable of unlocking Nigeria’s economic and industrial potential.
Despite the planned government funding, Tinubu urged the commissions not to depend entirely on public resources.
He encouraged them to seek alternative financing through public-private partnerships, donor funding and development finance to deliver transformative projects across their respective regions.
The President said the commissions were expected to prioritise strategic investments in rail transportation, air transportation, industrialisation, security, investment, human capital development, education and healthcare.
Tinubu also clarified that the regional development commissions were not created to replace or duplicate the responsibilities of state and local governments or existing federal institutions.
Instead, they are expected to complement existing government structures and accelerate development in their respective regions.
President Bola Tinubu further tasked the North Central Development Commission with supporting efforts to tackle security challenges across the region.
According to Tinubu, sustainable economic and social development can only occur in an environment where people and businesses are secure.
The warning comes as the administration seeks to position the regional development commissions as major drivers of infrastructure, investment and human capital development across Nigeria.
