Tinubu Directs Release Of Funds To Regional Commissions

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to ensure the timely release of funds approved for the country’s regional development commissions.

The President gave the directive at the North Central Development Commission Summit, held under the theme: “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic Infrastructure and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region.”

Akume, who represented Tinubu at the summit, said the establishment of the regional development commissions was part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at accelerating development across the country.

Speaking on the government’s commitment to the commissions, he said, “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.

“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 said.

Tinubu, however, urged the commissions to look beyond government allocations by seeking additional funding through public-private partnerships, donor support and development finance.

He said the commissions should prioritise strategic investments in rail transportation, air transport, industrialisation, security, investment, human capital development, education and healthcare.

The President also cautioned the boards and management of the commissions against corruption, marginalisation, politicisation and the diversion or misuse of public resources.

“Such actions will not be tolerated, and government will not hesitate to sanction anyone found culpable,” he said.

According to Tinubu, the regional commissions were created to complement, rather than take over or duplicate, the responsibilities of state and local governments as well as existing federal institutions.

He further tasked the North Central Development Commission with supporting efforts to tackle insecurity in the region, noting that meaningful economic and social development could not thrive without stability.

Speaking at the summit, Nasarawa State Governor and Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum, Abdullahi Sule, said the region had the human and natural resources required to achieve significant economic growth.

Sule identified agriculture, mining and industrial production as areas where the region had demonstrated strong potential, but called for greater emphasis on processing and value addition rather than the export of raw materials.

“When you are mining in North Central, you must also process in North Central,” the governor said.

He pointed to the establishment of a cement factory in Kogi State as an example of how processing mineral resources within the region could contribute to economic transformation.

Sule recalled that Nasarawa State had more than 400 steel licences when he became governor in 2019, despite having no processing plant to take advantage of its mineral resources.

He said the situation had changed, noting that the state now hosts the country’s largest and second-largest lithium processing plants.

“The North Central is the home of Benue cement. The North Central is the home of rice production. The North Central is the home of sesame production. So we have it all. Whatever it is that we are looking for, we have it,” Sule said.

The governor said the region needed leaders with the capacity to develop and execute long-term development strategies.

“What do we need more? We need thinkers. We need implementers. We need people who understand what it means to lead,” he said.

Sule also praised the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, saying the policies had improved the revenue available to the federal, state and local governments.

“Today, we are paying salaries without borrowing money from the bank. Even if you hate him, you cannot hate his policies. Even if you disagree with him, you cannot disagree with his policies. And that is the only way we can build,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the North Central Development Commission, Cyril Tsenyil, said the commission was established to coordinate regional development, mobilise resources and build partnerships, rather than take over the responsibilities of the six states in the region and the Federal Capital Territory.

Tsenyil said the commission’s 20-year development plan would target regional economic corridors, the processing of agricultural and mineral resources, infrastructure development and the creation of opportunities for young people.

He added that the North Central should aim to become one of Africa’s most competitive agricultural regions, rather than being defined merely as Nigeria’s agricultural hub.