President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the South-West and South-South Development Commission bills, marking a significant step towards regional development. The announcement was made by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, during Wednesday’s plenary session.
Kalu emphasized the importance of these commissions in delivering the benefits of democracy to grassroots communities, stating, “No mechanism is too much to trickle down development and dividends of democracy to the grassroots.” He expressed confidence that the commissions would enable the administration’s impact to be felt at the local level and thanked President Tinubu for extending this development initiative to all geopolitical zones.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio had confirmed the signing of the bills during Tuesday’s plenary, noting that “We now have all the developmental commissions legally in existence.” He conveyed the National Assembly’s appreciation to President Tinubu for his cooperation and for enacting the legislation, highlighting the commissions’ potential to generate employment and foster grassroots development.
The newly established commissions are mandated to drive infrastructure development, stimulate economic growth, and enhance social welfare within the South-West and South-South regions. The South-West Development Commission (SWDC) Bill, sponsored by Senator Gbenga Daniel, was passed by the Senate in September 2024 and subsequently approved by the House of Representatives. Similarly, the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) Bill, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, was passed in October 2024.
These commissions join the previously established North-West Development Commission and South-East Development Commission, both signed into law by President Tinubu in July 2024. The boards of these earlier commissions have already been appointed and confirmed by the Senate.
