The Nigerian Senate has approved a 15% funding allocation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to support the nation’s newly established regional development commissions. This decision followed a thorough review of the Senate Committee on Special Duties’ report, particularly on the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, which is the foundational model for other zonal commissions.
During deliberations, lawmakers debated the committee’s recommendation to assign 15% of statutory allocations from member states to fund these commissions. Some senators voiced concerns over this approach, fearing potential legal pushback from states wary of reductions in their statutory allocations.
Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North) cautioned that states might challenge the provision in court. “The 15 percent of statutory allocations of member states recommended for funding their zonal development commissions would be litigated against by some state governments,” Abdullahi remarked.
Addressing these concerns, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin clarified that the funding would not involve direct deductions from states’ statutory allocations. Rather, the Federal Government would calculate the 15% of each state’s allocation and then fund the commissions via the CRF, ensuring no impact on state budgets.
Despite these assurances, some senators remained apprehensive, prompting Senate President Godswill Akpabio to affirm the constitutionality of the provision under Section 162(4) of the 1999 Constitution. “We don’t need to debate whether 15 percent of statutory allocations from member states in a commission would be deducted,” Akpabio asserted, inviting any dissenters to seek judicial redress if desired.
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Following a majority voice vote, the Senate approved the funding allocation. President Akpabio commended the senators for their contributions to the establishment of these regional development commissions, which will play a critical role in supporting the Ministry of Regional Development.
The approved bills include the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 and amendments to the North West and South-East Development Commission Acts, with prior approvals for the South West and North Central Development Commission Establishment Bills.
