The Senate Committee on Regional Development has raised concerns over the spending pattern of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), revealing that a large portion of its expenditure went toward board allowances rather than development projects.
During an oversight session, lawmakers disclosed that the commission spent about ₦943 million of its ₦1.19 billion expenditure on allowances for board members, representing roughly 79 percent of the total spending.
The committee expressed concern that despite the huge administrative spending, the commission had yet to make significant progress in delivering infrastructure and development projects across the North-West, a region facing serious security and socio-economic challenges.
Lawmakers also noted that the commission has reportedly been operating without executive directors or a full complement of staff since its inauguration in February 2025.
Officials from the Ministry of Regional Development, the commission’s board and its Managing Director attributed the situation to operational and logistical challenges. However, members of the committee rejected the explanation, insisting that the agency was established to address developmental needs rather than incur excessive administrative expenses.
The committee called for greater transparency, accountability and immediate corrective measures before any additional public funds are released to the commission.
The development comes amid increasing scrutiny of the financial activities of newly established regional development commissions.
In a related development, the Senate Committee overseeing the South East Development Commission (SEDC), led by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, recently questioned the commission’s management over the handling of ₦16.6 billion allocated in its 2025 budget.
Lawmakers criticised the commission after discovering that ₦153 million was spent on securing and setting up a liaison office in Abuja, while also demanding explanations for more than ₦4 billion in expenditures, including a ₦2.5 billion item reportedly recorded as “implied expenditure” without detailed supporting documentation.
Although the SEDC management maintained that the amount covered office establishment, infrastructure and furnishing costs over a 16-month period, the Senate committee directed the agency to provide contract documents, procurement records and payment schedules for verification.
The recent findings involving both the NWDC and SEDC have intensified calls from accountability advocates for comprehensive audits of regional development commissions to ensure public funds are used for their intended purposes.
