Senate Confirms Nominees for North West and South East Development Commissions’ Governing Boards

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the nominees for the governing boards of the North West and South East Development Commissions, marking a key step in regional development efforts.

The Nigerian Senate has officially approved all the nominees for the Governing Boards of both the North West Development Commission (NWDC) and the South East Development Commission (SEDC), as proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This confirmation came after the Senate’s adoption of a report from its ad-hoc committee on regional development commissions, led by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North). The committee meticulously screened each nominee.

In its report, the committee emphasized that every nominee showcased the necessary competence and capability to efficiently oversee their respective development commissions’ operations.

A minor drama unfolded as certain legislators attempted to invoke Order (1b) to postpone the confirmation for additional consultations.

The attempt was unsuccessful, as the Senate chose to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole to review the report, during which all nominees for both commissions were approved.

The Senate approved 14 nominees for the North West Development Commission and 18 for the South East Development Commission.

Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi was appointed as the Chairman of the North West Commission, while Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji was named its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The others include Yahaya Umar Namahe, Aminu Suleiman, Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq, Yahaya Aminu Abdullahi, Muhammad Ali Wudil, Shamsu Sule, Nasidi Ali, Chukwu Chijioke. Also on the list are Ahmed Mohammed and Ahmed Rufai Timasantyu alongside Macdonalds Michael Uyi and Babatunde Dada.

Emeka Nworgu and Mark Okoye were officially appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director, respectively, of the South East Commission.

The commission also confirmed the nominations of Ugochukwu Agballah, Okey Kzenwa, Hyacinth Ikpor, Chidi Echeazu, Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman Hamma Adama; Ali Kumo Edward David Onoja Orure Kufre Inima Daniel Akwari Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma Stanley Ohajuruka Sylvester Okonkwo Toby Okechukwu Anthony Agbo Clifford Ogbede.