The Senate Committee on Regional Development on Tuesday questioned the North West Development Commission over its expenditure, revealing that about ₦943 million—roughly 79 per cent of the ₦1.19 billion it had spent, went to allowances for members of its governing board.
According to The Punch, during an investigative hearing attended by officials of the commission and the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, lawmakers described the expenditure as excessive and inconsistent with the commission’s mandate of driving development across the North-West.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Babangida Hussaini, said the panel was alarmed by financial records showing the large allocation to board allowances.
He also questioned the payment of duty tour allowances to the Managing Director for a visit to the Kano State governor, despite the commission’s headquarters being in Kano, as well as claims for air tickets, local transportation and other logistics.
The committee also raised concerns over the commission’s governance, noting that it remains the only regional development commission without executive directors despite being among the first established by an Act of the National Assembly. Lawmakers said the vacancies had weakened the commission’s operations and delayed the implementation of its mandate.
Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Ahmadu, told the committee that the ministry had intervened to resolve the dispute over the commission’s headquarters in Kano.
He said the Kano State Government provided a fully furnished office complex, operational vehicles and land, while officials of the ministry, board and management jointly took possession of the facility last week.
Ahmadu said the absence of executive directors had contributed significantly to the commission’s administrative challenges since its governing board was inaugurated in February 2025.
Responding to the concerns, Chairman of the Governing Board, Prof. Abdullahi Ma’aji, defended the spending, insisting it complied with the provisions of the North West Development Commission Act, 2024.
He said the board had held seven meetings—five regular and two emergency sessions—and adopted 63 resolutions to establish the commission’s institutional and policy framework. According to him, committee activities and sitting allowances were legitimate governance expenses recognised under the law.
Ma’aji, however, said while the board approved governance expenses, responsibility for processing payments rested with the commission’s management.
He also accused the management of failing to implement several board resolutions, citing communication gaps and delays that had slowed the commission’s take-off.
Lawmakers further expressed concern over delays in staff recruitment and the execution of the commission’s capital budget, arguing that the ministry should be held accountable for the prolonged failure to complete the commission’s management structure.
The committee later moved into a closed-door executive session to deliberate on the issues and seek further clarification from the officials.
