Senate Probes NWDC Over N943m Allowances and Governance

During an oversight session, the Nigerian Senate, led by Chairman Babangida Hussaini, scrutinized the North West Development Commission (NWDC) over N943 million in board allowances and governance gaps. The Senate questioned why the NWDC has not appointed an executive director since its establishment, despite the commission's critical role in regional development.

Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Ahmadu, acknowledged the ongoing disputes regarding the commission's office location in Kano, which has hindered its operations. He noted that the Kano State government is expected to resolve these issues.

The Senate also expressed concern over the commission's financial records, highlighting that N1.19 billion was spent, with N943 million allocated to board allowances, raising questions about the rationality of these expenditures. Prof. Abdullahi Ma Aji, Chairman of the NWDC Board, defended the board's actions, stating that they complied with the commission's operational guidelines and held multiple meetings to address development issues in the region.