PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, to ensure the release of all funds approved for the regional commissions.
The President, who gave the directive on Monday, September 14, at the North Central Development Commission Summit, themed, ‘The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic Infrastructure and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region,’ assured that “government will continue to give the NCDC and other Regional Development Commissions the political and financial backing to embark on key projects that will unlock the economic and industrial potentials of the nation.”
Tinubu, who represented by Akume at the event, said the creation of regional development commissions was part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to accelerate development across the country, adding: “I, therefore, direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ensure that all funds accruable to the Commissions are released as and when due.”
He, however, charged the commissions not rely solely on government funding, but to explore public-private partnerships, donor funding and development financing for transformative projects, as they were expected to focus on major projects in rail, air transportation, industrialisation, security, investment, human capital development, education and health.
Tinubu warned the boards and management of the commissions against corruption, marginalisation, politicisation and misuse of government resources, saying: “Such actions will not be tolerated, and government will not hesitate to sanction anyone found culpable.”
He reiterated that the regional commissions were not established to replace or duplicate the functions of state and local governments or existing federal institutions, even as he charged the North Central Development Commission to support efforts to address the security challenges in the region, as development could only take place in a stable environment.
