Why NASS Backed Tinubu’s Regional Development Commissions

Uyo – Senate President Godswill Akpabio has revealed that the 10th National Assembly (NASS) wholeheartedly endorsed the establishment of regional development commissions under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. This initiative aims to drive empowerment and growth to grassroots communities across Nigeria.

Speaking during his 2024 Empowerment/Constituency Briefing on Monday at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, Akpabio, who represents Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom Northwest) in Akwa Ibom State, highlighted the importance of regional commissions in addressing developmental needs.

He called on the South-South and South-East regions to continue supporting Tinubu’s administration, emphasizing the president’s dedication to improving these areas. Akpabio particularly praised his senatorial district for their overwhelming support, noting that out of 160,000 votes for President Tinubu, over 119,000 came from his district.

In his remarks, Akpabio stated:

“Today is not about speeches but about expressing gratitude to the people of Akwa Ibom, especially the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. Thank you for your wisdom, vision, and re-electing me into the 10th Senate.

“Votes from my senatorial district for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu exceeded the combined votes from five states in the South-East. The South-East must rise to prove its worth. The president has shown love for the South-East by signing the South-East Development Commission into law.”

Akpabio outlined the broader vision behind the development commissions, explaining that NASS prioritized grassroots empowerment to ensure equitable development across Nigeria. He revealed the current status of various commissions:

Northwest Development Commission – Already signed into law.
Southwest Development Commission – Pending final approval.
North Central Development Commission – Near completion.
South-South Development Commission – In advanced stages of approval.

He also noted that key ministries were allocated not based on regional voting patterns but on specific developmental needs. For example, the Ministry of Works was assigned to tackle ecological and infrastructure challenges in the South-East and South-South regions, while Akwa Ibom was granted the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), recognizing its vast gas reserves.

Akpabio praised Tinubu’s decision to support the South-South region by enabling it to produce the Senate President, emphasizing the role of leadership in fostering regional development.

Empowerment Initiatives:

During the event, Akpabio distributed various empowerment items across the ten local government areas in his senatorial district. These items included:

Power generators, sewing machines, grinding machines, block-molding machines, and cassava processing machines.
Vehicles such as cars, mini-buses, tricycles (keke napep), motorcycles, and Hilux vans.
Agricultural equipment like tractors.
Essentials such as bags of rice and freezers.

This initiative underscores Akpabio’s commitment to grassroots development and providing practical tools to enhance livelihoods in his constituency.