Senate okays Nominees for North West & South East Commission

Abuja, Nigeria —  The Nigerian Senate has confirmed all nominees for the governing boards of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) and the South East Development Commission (SEDC) during Tuesday’s plenary session, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Mark Okoye and Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji were approved as Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers for the SEDC and NWDC, respectively. The confirmation followed the presentation of a screening report by the Ad-Hoc Committee on Regional Development Commissions, chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia-North).

According to Senator Kalu, the nominees displayed exceptional competence and readiness for their roles during the screening process. However, the plenary session saw a brief debate as some senators invoked Order 1(b), seeking to delay the confirmation for further consultations. The motion was ultimately defeated, and the Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to finalize the confirmations.

NWDC and SEDC Leadership Teams

The NWDC’s leadership includes a 14-member board, with Alhaji Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi as Chairman and Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji as Managing Director. Other members include Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe, Hon. Aminu Suleiman, and Ja’afar Abubakar Sadeeq, among others.

For the SEDC, the 18-member board is chaired by Dr. Emeka Nworgu, with Hon. Mark Okoye serving as Managing Director. Key members include Barr. Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, and Dr. Clifford Ogbede, who will oversee Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development.

Presidential Nomination and Senate Oversight  

President Bola Tinubu had submitted a revised list of nominees four weeks prior, prompting the Senate to assign the Ad-Hoc Committee the responsibility of screening the candidates. During the exercise, the committee emphasized the importance of ethical practices, transparency, and accountability in governance.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu reaffirmed the Senate’s resolve to oversee the activities of the development commissions closely, warning that inefficiency or unethical behavior would not be tolerated.

The confirmation process was concluded through voice votes, signaling the Senate’s unanimous approval of the nominees.  

By Enoch Odesola| January 14, 2025