The Senate has amended the Acts establishing the South-South, South-West, and North-Central Development Commissions to allow for the appointment of additional Executive Directors, aimed at improving administrative efficiency within the regional bodies.
This followed the presentation and consideration of three amendment bills sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), during Tuesday’s plenary session.
The bills include:
- A Bill for an Act to Amend the South-South Development Commission Act, 2025 (SB. 781)
- A Bill for an Act to Amend the North-Central Development Commission Act, 2025 (SB. 782)
- A Bill for an Act to Amend the South-West Development Commission Act, 2025 (SB. 783)
All three bills passed through the required legislative stages and were approved by the Senate.
Explaining the rationale behind the amendments, Senator Bamidele said the changes were necessary to address administrative gaps in the existing laws, particularly concerning the structure and appointment of Executive Directors.
He noted that the original versions of the Acts, which were passed and signed into law earlier in 2025 by President Bola Tinubu, lacked uniform provisions for executive leadership across the regional commissions.
“The bills seek to reconcile inconsistencies in the existing Acts regarding the appointment of Executive Directors, ensuring uniformity with other regional bodies like the North-West and South-East Development Commissions,” Bamidele explained.
He added that practical experience with the implementation of the Acts had revealed the need for a broader executive structure to meet each commission’s developmental objectives effectively.
“With the benefit of hindsight, it became clear that additional Executive Directors are needed to lead key departments within the commissions,” he said.
