By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards promoting regional development and national unity. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen emphasized that the creation of Regional Development Commissions for the six geopolitical zones will ensure every region feels a genuine sense of belonging in the Nigerian project.
The Speaker reaffirmed the House’s commitment to fairness, regional inclusion, and sustained engagement with grassroots communities. “Every region must feel a genuine sense of belonging in the Nigerian project,” he said.
The House inaugurated committees for the South-South, South-West, and North-Central Development Commissions. The Speaker charged the committees to maintain strong oversight, propose responsive legislation, and hold implementing agencies accountable.
The committees are expected to work in tandem with state governments and stakeholders to achieve desired results.*”We must ensure that these development commissions become platforms for action, not bureaucracy,”Abbas said.
The Chairman of the House Committee on the South-South Development Commission, Julius Pondi, described the inauguration as a renewed commitment to hope and progress for millions of citizens. He noted that the region has been underserved despite being the economic engine of the nation.
Pondi said the establishment of the South-South Development Commission is a watershed moment, born of relentless advocacy and shared resolve to confront environmental degradation and socio-economic exclusion.
The committee’s focus areas include environmental remediation, youth empowerment, access to quality healthcare and education, renewable energy solutions, and sustainable livelihoods. Pondi emphasized the need for strong partnerships with government, civil society, and communities.
The committee will provide vigorous legislative oversight, ensure transparency and accountability, and champion the strategic vision necessary to actualize the Commission’s mission.
The inauguration of the committees signals a new beginning for regional development in Nigeria. The House of Representatives is committed to ensuring that every region has the tools, voice, and platform to thrive.
