President Bola Tinubu has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to ensure the timely release of all approved funds accruable to Nigeria’s regional development commissions.
Tinubu gave the directive on Monday at the maiden North Central Stakeholders’ Development Summit in Abuja, where the region unveiled plans for a 20-year economic, infrastructural and social development strategy.
Represented at the summit by Akume, the President said adequate and timely funding was necessary for the regional commissions to undertake major projects capable of unlocking economic and industrial opportunities across their respective regions.
He directed the SGF to ensure that funds approved for the commissions are released as and when due, while also warning the agencies against becoming dependent entirely on government allocations.
Tinubu urged the commissions to explore alternative sources of financing, including public-private partnerships, donor funding and development finance, particularly for large-scale projects requiring sustained investment.
The President said the commissions should concentrate on strategic areas including rail transportation, aviation, industrialisation, security, investment, human capital development, education and healthcare.
The directive comes as the Federal Government seeks to strengthen the country's regional development structure through dedicated commissions designed to address development challenges peculiar to different parts of Nigeria.
The North Central Development Commission is currently working with stakeholders to develop a 20-year blueprint for the region covering Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.
Tinubu, however, warned the commissions against corruption, politicisation, marginalisation and the misuse of public resources. He said the government would sanction officials found culpable of misconduct.
He also stressed that the commissions were not established to replace or duplicate the responsibilities of state and local governments or existing federal institutions. Instead, they are expected to complement existing structures by addressing regional development gaps and coordinating projects that require broader intervention.
The President further linked regional development to security, particularly in the North Central, where insecurity has affected communities, agricultural activity and economic growth. He said sustainable development would be difficult to achieve without a stable environment.
The funding directive therefore places greater responsibility on the commissions to demonstrate that increased access to public resources can translate into measurable development outcomes.
At the summit, Nasarawa State Governor and Chairman of the North Central Governors' Forum, Abdullahi Sule, said the region possessed substantial agricultural, mineral and industrial resources that could support stronger economic growth.
Sule called for greater investment in processing and value addition rather than relying primarily on the extraction and export of raw materials. He highlighted agriculture, mining and industrial production as areas where the region could expand its economic contribution.
The broader funding model also presents an accountability challenge. With the Federal Government directing the release of funds while simultaneously warning against waste and misuse, the commissions will face increasing pressure to demonstrate how allocations are spent and what tangible results they produce.
The effectiveness of the policy will ultimately depend not simply on whether approved funds are released, but on whether those resources are converted into completed infrastructure, jobs, investment, improved public services and stronger economic activity across the regions.
For now, Tinubu's directive provides the commissions with a stronger financial mandate, but the real test will come through implementation, transparency and measurable results from the projects they undertake.
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