Lawmakers in Nigeria’s Senate displayed a clear divide on Thursday regarding the financing of the newly proposed Zonal Development Commissions. The discussions surged as both the Senate and the House of Representatives advanced legislation aimed at establishing these commissions, which have been stripped of operational immunity for their boards and executives.
The contention arose during the detailed examination of the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, which serves as the blueprint for other zonal commissions. A central point of the debate was the recommendation from the Senate Committee on Special Duties that 15% of statutory allocations from member states be allocated to fund these commissions.
Key Senators, including Yahaya Abdullahi, Wasiu Eshinlokun, and Seriake Dickson, raised concerns about the funding framework proposed. Senator Abdullahi cautioned that this allocation could provoke legal challenges from state governments, as they may resist any reductions to their statutory allocations.
“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the proposed 15% allocation would likely face litigation from some state governments,” Abdullahi asserted.
In an effort to clarify the proposal, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin intervened, emphasizing that the 15% allocation is not a direct deduction from state funds. He explained that this percentage would be calculated and extracted from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to fund the Zonal Development Commissions, rather than reducing states’ monthly allocations.
Despite these clarifications, numerous senators remained skeptical and wanted to engage further in the debate. Senate President Godswill Akpabio ultimately reaffirmed the constitutional validity of the provision, citing Section 162(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to appropriate funds from either the Consolidated Revenue Fund or the Federation Account.
“Fifteen percent of the statutory allocation has been recommended, and those who wish to challenge this in court are welcome to do so,” Akpabio stated firmly before calling for a voice vote, which resulted in a majority leaning in favor of the allocation.
Following the passage of the consolidated bills, Akpabio expressed appreciation to his colleagues for their commitment to establishing the Zonal Development Commissions, which will underpin the newly created Ministry of Regional Development.
Included in the passed legislation are the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, the North West Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the South-East Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024. Previous approvals included the South West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 and the North Central Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024.
