By Our Reporter
The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the Bill to establish the South West Development Commission.
Once established, the commission will oversee the receipt and management of funds from the Federation Account, as well as donations and gifts aimed at rebuilding and rehabilitating infrastructure damaged in the region. It will also address ecological, environmental, and other developmental challenges within the region after receiving presidential assent.
The bill was previously approved by the Senate in September 2024. With the House’s approval, the legislation will now be sent to President Bola Tinubu for final assent.
Although the commission is not yet formally established, it has already been allocated N140 billion in the 2025 budget, which was signed by the President.
In addition to the South West Commission, President Tinubu signed the North-West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024, and the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023, in July of last year. Earlier this year, he also signed the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) Bill into law.
The 2025 budget allocates N140 billion to the South West Development Commission, with similar amounts of N140 billion each designated for the North Central, South East, South South, and South West Development Commissions. The North East Development Commission has been allocated N240.99 billion, while the North West Development Commission receives N145.60 billion.