Senate Committee Commends NWDC Progress, Resolves Leadership Rift, Pledges Sustained Oversight

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North West Development Commission (NWDC), Babangida Hussaini, has expressed satisfaction with the commission's performance, assuring Nigerians that the committee will continue to provide robust legislative oversight to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja after an engagement with the management of the commission, Senator Hussaini said the meeting was convened to assess the milestones recorded by the NWDC since it commenced limited operations and to evaluate its compliance with financial and administrative procedures.

"The intention of the meeting was to receive a briefing from the commission on the milestones they have covered, especially since they have started some limited operations," he said.

According to the lawmaker, the committee carefully examined the commission's financial management, utilisation of funds released by the Federal Government, procurement processes, governance framework, and operational procedures as part of its constitutional oversight responsibility.

"In specific terms, we looked at their finances because it is an oversight function. We are following the money to ensure that the funds released are judiciously applied. We also examined their procurement processes, the governance system in place, and the procedures leading to procurement.

"So far, we have received satisfactory answers regarding the progress they are making, and we will continue to follow up with the commission to ensure that the North-West region derives greater benefits from its activities," he stated.

Addressing reports of a misunderstanding between the commission's Managing Director and the Chairman of its Governing Board, Senator Hussaini disclosed that the committee had intervened and successfully resolved the issue, describing the disagreement as a normal occurrence in institutional administration.

"Yes, we have intervened. It is always normal in any relationship to have slight hitches. These are routine matters that happen from time to time, and we have used the opportunity of this meeting to sort out and settle the differences," he said.

The committee chairman also responded to concerns over the Managing Director's air travel expenses during an official visit to the Governor of Kano State. He explained that the commission was still operating temporarily from Abuja because it had not yet relocated to its permanent headquarters in Kano.

"The explanation was that they were still based in Abuja because they had not relocated to Kano. They only took over their office in Kano a few days ago after the facility was completed and handed over. Therefore, the official trip from Abuja was necessary under the circumstances," Hussaini explained.

He reaffirmed the committee's commitment to sustained legislative oversight, stressing that transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources remain essential to enabling the North West Development Commission to fulfil its mandate of accelerating development across the North-West region.