The Nigerian Senate passed the South-West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 on Thursday, September 26, marking a significant step toward enhancing the socio-economic development of the South-West region.
The bill, presented by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan during plenary, aims to address infrastructural deficits and ecological challenges by securing funds from the Federation Account and donations from development partners.
Following the third reading, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin commended the committee’s efforts, emphasizing that the commission is intended to accelerate development across the country. He expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would grant his assent to the bill, similar to his recent approvals for the North-West and South-East Development Commission Bills.
While the establishment of the commission was largely welcomed, the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere voiced concerns about the need for broader structural reforms. Afenifere’s Deputy Chairman, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, stated, “This is a welcome idea, but what the country needs now is not a unitary system of government. Nigeria is a federation. All these piecemeal palliatives will only lead to the multidimensional poverty of the nation as a whole.”
Afenifere called for the devolution of power to federating units and criticized the central government’s control, arguing that true federalism is essential for the nation’s development. The group has expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of past commissions, urging for a more meaningful approach to governance that empowers local entities.
In a statement to The PUNCH, Afenifere’s Organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, acknowledged the bill’s passage as a positive development and thanked Senator Gbenga Daniel for his leadership in sponsoring the legislation. National Publicity Secretary Jare Ajayi echoed this sentiment, calling on the House of Representatives to expedite its approval and for the President to assent without delay.
If enacted, the South-West Development Commission will be entitled to direct allocations from the Federation Account, complementing the existing monthly distributions to states and local governments in the region, further enhancing the prospects for regional development.
