All the regional development commissions have largely personnel cost allocation in the assented 2025 budget except for SEDC
In the recently enacted N54.99 trillion 2025 budget assented by President Bola Tinubu, the total allocation for the newly created Federal Ministry of Regional Development was N29.72 billion.
The ministry was established on October 23, 2024, by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to oversee the activities of the various regional development commissions, including the North West Development Commission (NWDC), South West Development Commission (SWDC), North East Development Commission (NEDC), South East Development Commission (SEDC), and North Central Development Commission.
A breakdown of the 2025 budget particular to the ministry shows that N3.17 billion was for personnel cost, N1.67 billion for overhead and N24.88 billion for capital expenditure of the ministry.
However, the regional development commissions were given allocations for their personnel cost only in the assented budget.
Journey to regional development commissions
Aside from the NEDC which existed since 2017 to rebuild and rehabilitate states affected by insurgency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the drive to establish more regional development commissions gained speed as representatives from different regions in the 10th National Assembly began to roll out bills to this effect in 2024.
Other regional development commissions that have been created in recent times include NWDC, NCDC, SEDC while the SWDC and SSDC bills have been passed and awaiting assent by the President.
Earlier practice of regional governments
Regional government in Nigeria began with the establishment of the federal system under the Lyttelton Constitution in 1954, which created three regions: Northern, Western, and Eastern. This system allowed for significant regional autonomy and governance by local leaders. However, following a series of military coups, regional governments were effectively abolished in 1966 when General Yakubu Gowon restored a federal structure that divided the country into states, thereby diminishing the powers of the former regions.
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In the 2025 budget a significant portion of the budget was dedicated to fostering development through the nation’s regional development commissions.
These commissions were tasked with addressing regional disparities and fostering socio-economic growth. Here’s a detailed look at the allocations:
North East Development Commission (NEDC)
The NEDC received a significant allocation of N240.99 billion in the 2025 budget, up from the N131.84 billion in the 2024 budget. The region comprises Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, and was established in 2017 by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to underscore national concern with the devastation suffered by the region due to the boko haram insurgency.
The commission was charged with the responsibility of, among other things, receiving and managing funds allocated by the federal government and international donors for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of roads, houses, and business premises of victims of insurgency and terrorism as well as tackling the menace of poverty, illiteracy, ecological problems and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in the north-east states.
The NEDC bill, which became an inspiration for the establishment of other regional commissions in recent times, was sponsored by Senator Danjuma Goje and had 15 co-sponsors.
North West Development Commission (NWDC)
It is one of the newly formed commissions which was signed into law by President Tinubu on July 23, 2024. The NWDC was allocated N145.6 billion in the 2025 budget.
The NWDC was established to address challenges peculiar to the region which includes socio-economic challenges such as insecurity which stemmed from banditry and kidnapping, poverty, infrastructural deficits, literacy level, ecological problems, and any other related environmental or development challenges in the north-west region. The commission is also expected to revamp the near-collapsed textile industries in Kaduna and Kano amongst others.
The region which comprises Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states gained the support of its prominent representatives in the Senate and House of Representatives. The NWDC bill was championed by the Deputy Senate President, Jibirin Barau and 20 other senators. Yhe Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, had in the 9th assembly, sponsored the NWDC bill though it didn’t gain full traction at the time.
North Central Development Commission (NCDC)
The NCDC in the 2025 budget received an allocation of N140 billion. The establishment bill received presidential assent as announced by the President of the Senate, Goodwill Akpabio, during plenary held on February 4, 2025.
The region comprises Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the commission is saddled with the responsibility of tackling insecurity, communal crises, education, infrastructural development and agricultural development in the north-central zone.
The new commission will also be focused effort on addressing the poor infrastructure that has long hampered economic activities. Roads such as the Lafia-Makurdi highway, Ilorin-Jebba road, and Abuja-Lokoja road will finally see completion, and new transport routes, including railways, will be developed to enhance trade mobility and access.
Furthermore, the commission will place a strong emphasis on revitalising agriculture, which has historically been the backbone of the region’s economy. The revival of key industries, such as the Jos Tin Mines and Ajaokuta Steel Plant, will help diversify the regional economy and reduce reliance on agriculture alone.
South East Development Commission (SEDC)
Just like the NWDC, the SEDC was created on July 23, 2024. The rgion comprises of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states and the commission was established to address the developmental needs of the south-east, including industrial development, infrastructural upgrades, resolving issues of marginalization and tackling of ecological and environmental problems that arise from the extraction and mining of solid mineral, exploration of oil mineral in the south-east, etc. The commission is also to provide advice to the federal government and member states on the prevention and control of oil spillage, gas flaring and environmental pollution.
The SEDC bill was sponsored by Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who represents Bende federal constituency in Abia State.
The signing of the bill into law by President Tinubu was perceived by many stakeholders as a commendable move to address many years of neglect of the region by subsequent federal administrations since the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1970. The SEDC was allocated N140 billion for its personnel cost and N250 billion for overhead and capital expenditure as revealed by the Chairman House committee on SEDC, Rep. Chris Okwonta (APC Abia). However, the N250 billion allocation is yet to be approved by the National Assembly.
According to Rep. Nkwonta during the presentation of the SEDC budget, “this budget is essentially going to target those areas where there is deficit in infrastructure, erosion and other areas of human capital development. The commission will be expected to build roads, bridges, railways and manpower development.
“The commission also expects money to come in from federal allocation. I am told that money is also expected to come from the five southeastern states, from ecological funds coming into the country, and from oil companies operating in the south east.”
South West Development Commission (SWDC)
The SWDC bill is yet to receive presidential assent, though it has been passed by the National Assembly. It was allocated N140 billion in the 2025 budget.
The SWDC bill was sponsored by Senator Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East) and aims to address infrastructural deficits and tackle ecological challenges in the south-west region, which includes Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states. The commission will receive funds from the federation account and donations to achieve these goals
This allocation positions the SWDC to address pressing challenges like urban development, coastal erosion, and economic diversification in the region.
South South Development Commission (SSDC)
The SSDC, which focuses on the resource-rich south-south region, has an allocation of N140 billion in the assented 2025 budget. Though the SSDC bill has been passed by the National Assembly, it is yet to receive presidential assent. Its approval would be pivotal for addressing oil-related environmental issues and ensuring equitable resource distribution.
The proposed commission may appera to have overlapping functions with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). However, the NDDC is a multi-regional body that includes states like Abia and Imo from the south-east and Ondo from the south-west.
