The Nation Newspaper

Tag: South West Development Commission

  • Minister urges synergy as South West Development Commission leaders assume duties

    Minister urges synergy as South West Development Commission leaders assume duties

    Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, has urged the leadership of the South West Development Commission (SWDC) to prioritise synergy, collaboration, and a shared vision as they prepare to formally assume office.

    Speaking on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Commission’s Chairman-designate, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, and Managing Director-designate, Dr. Charles Akinola, in Abuja, Momoh emphasised that experience alone is not enough to ensure success.

    “The South West Development Commission is a crucial part of our national development framework, and I believe both of you bring a wealth of experience to this assignment. However, experience alone is not enough — what will drive success is synergy, mutual respect, and a clear commitment to delivering results for the people,” the Minister stated.

    Read Also: Minister, Chrisland chief urge pupils to be focused, independent

    Though the Commission is yet to be formally inaugurated, the meeting marked a key step in pre-inaugural consultations aimed at aligning strategic goals for the South West region under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Welcoming the visitors, Momoh stressed the need for early engagement to lay a solid foundation for the Commission’s success.

    Senator Adetunmbi, known for his legislative expertise and regional development insights, thanked the Minister for his guidance, while Dr. Akinola—an acclaimed development strategist and governance expert—reaffirmed their commitment to building a results-oriented institution aligned with the Federal Government’s broader development vision.

    The meeting sets the stage for proactive, coordinated leadership focused on unlocking the socio-economic potential of the South West geopolitical zone.

  • Reps pass amended Bill stripping SWDC of 3% seaports, airport, oil, gas revenues

    Reps pass amended Bill stripping SWDC of 3% seaports, airport, oil, gas revenues

    The House of Representatives has passed the amended South West Development Commission (SWDC) Bill striping the commission of revenue earned through the airport, seaport or gas companies operating in the Southwest region.

    Speaker Tajudeen Abbas had explained told members at Tuesday’s plenary when the Bill was considered that the reconsideration was due to an objection the President raised over certain provisions of the Bill.

    He said the President objected to the provisions because they were in conflict with the provisions of the Constitution.

    The new Bill, which was read for the third time and passed yesterday after its consideration and approval on Tuesday, would be sent back to the President for his assent.

    The Bill, seeks to “establish South West Development Commission charged with the responsibility, among other things, to receive and manage funds from allocation of the Federation Account, including donations and gifts for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Infrastructural damages suffered in the region and to tackle the ecological, environmental and other developmental challenges in the Region and for related matters”.

    Read Also; A woman’s world?

    The amendments to the Establishment Act sought to delete clauses 14(b, c, d and e).

    Clause 14(b), which provided that: “Three per cent of the annual budget of any federal seaport and airport operating in the South West,” was deleted.

    Similarly, Clause 14(c), which provided that: “Three per cent of the total annual budget of any oil producing company operating, on shore and off shore, in the South West States: including gas processing companies,” was also deleted.

    Also, Clause 14(d) provided that: “Three per cent of the total annual budget of any Solid mineral extracting mining company operating in the South West States.”

    Clause 14(e), which provided that: “50 per cent of monies due to member-states of the commission from the Ecological Fund,” was deleted.

    The law provides that “the commission shall establish and maintain a fund, the proceeds of which shall be used to defray all expenditures incurred by the commission”.