President Directs SGF Akume to Ensure Timely Funding, Warns Against Corruption and Politicisation
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, to ensure the timely release of all funds approved for Nigeria’s regional development commissions.
President Tinubu gave the directive on Monday at the North Central Development Commission Summit, themed “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic Infrastructure and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region.”
Akume, who represented the President at the summit, said the regional commissions were established under the Renewed Hope Agenda to accelerate development across the country.
“I therefore direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ensure that all funds accruable to the Commissions are released as and when due,” Tinubu said.
The President, however, urged the commissions to diversify their funding through public-private partnerships, donor support and development financing rather than rely solely on government allocations.
He said the commissions should prioritise projects in rail and air transportation, industrialisation, security, investment, human capital development, education and healthcare.
President tinubu also warned the boards and management of the commissions against corruption, marginalisation, politicisation and misuse of public resources, saying anyone found culpable would face sanctions.
He stressed that the commissions were not created to replace or duplicate the responsibilities of state and local governments or existing federal institutions.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa State Governor and Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum, Abdullahi Sule, said the region had the resources needed to drive economic growth but must focus on processing and value addition.
“When you are mining in North Central, you must also process in North Central,” Sule said, citing developments in lithium processing and cement production as examples.
The governor called for stronger long-term planning and leadership, while commending the President Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, which he said had increased revenues available to the three tiers of government.
The CEO of the North Central Development Commission, Cyril Tsenyil, said the commission’s 20-year plan would focus on economic corridors, agricultural and mineral processing, infrastructure development and opportunities for young people.