‎By Ahmed Akanbi

‎The Senate Committee on Regional Development, on Tuesday, grilled officials of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) over the expenditure of N943 million on board allowances and the failure to appoint executive directors nearly 18 months after the commission’s establishment.

‎The committee expressed shock that out of N1.19 billion spent by the commission, N943 million, representing about 79 per cent, went to allowances for members of the governing board.

‎The lawmakers described the spending pattern as “disturbing” and said it defeated the purpose for which the commission was created to address insecurity and infrastructure deficits in the North West.

‎The Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, told the committee that NWDC remains the only regional commission without executive directors.

‎“The North West Development Commission is the only commission that does not yet have executive directors. Every other regional commission has its full management structure in place. Something has to be done urgently so that the commission can function effectively,” he said.

‎Ahmadu said the vacuum at management level had weakened operations since inauguration. He added that while the board was inaugurated in February 2025 to prevent delay, the commission had continued to battle crises.

‎He also announced that the Kano State Government had resolved the dispute over office accommodation by providing a fully furnished office, operational vehicles and a plot of land. The ministry, board and management, he said, took over the facility last week.

‎Lawmakers questioned how the board claimed to have no cash backing yet undertook official visits to governors and other stakeholders.

‎One of them queried the payment of duty tour allowance to the Managing Director for a visit to the Kano State Governor, despite the commission’s headquarters being in Kano. The claim reportedly included air tickets, local transport and other running costs.

‎Chairman of the Governing Board, Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji, defended the expenditure, saying it was backed by the North West Development Commission Act, 2024.

‎He said the board had held seven meetings and passed 63 resolutions to establish the institutional framework, standing orders, operational guidelines and fund allocation principles for the seven North West states.

‎Ma’aji stated that committee activities and sitting allowances were lawful governance expenses.

‎He, however, said while the board approved expenditures, the responsibility for payment rested with management.

‎He also lamented non-implementation of board resolutions and communication gaps, which he said had slowed the commission’s take-off.