The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, amended the Acts establishing three regional development commissions to provide for the appointment of additional executive directors.
The amendments, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, affect the following:
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South-South Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 781)
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North Central Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 782)
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South West Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 783)
These Bills were read for the first time on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
Explaining the rationale behind the amendments, Senator Bamidele said they aim to correct observed gaps in the original legislations, particularly regarding leadership structure. He noted the need to align these commissions with their counterparts in the North West and South East, which already make provisions for multiple executive directors.
“With the benefit of hindsight,” Bamidele stated, “these Bills were previously passed by the National Assembly earlier this year and have since been transmitted and assented to by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”
“However, in the course of implementing the legislations, it was observed that there is a need to make provision for more executive directors to head the various departments of the Commission,” he added.
The move is expected to enhance administrative efficiency and facilitate better execution of regional development projects across the affected zones.
