The Senate, on Tuesday, amended the Acts establishing the South-South, South-West, and North-Central Development Commissions, to provide for the appointment of more executive directors to enhance efficient administration in the regional bodies.

This was sequel to the presentation of three bills sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), considered during plenary.

They included “A Bill for an Act to Amend the South South Development Commission Act, 2025 (SB. 781);” “a Bill for an Act to Amend the North Central Development Commission Act, 2025 (SB. 782)” and “a Bill for an Act to Amend the South West Development Commission Act, 2025 (SB. 783).”

The proposed legislation successfully passed through the three stages and passed.

Explaining the need to amend the Acts, the Senate Leader said the amendments were aimed at resolving administrative gaps within the Acts, particularly concerning the appointment of Executive Directors.

He argued that the existing structure lacked uniformity when compared to other regional bodies like the North West and South East Development Commissions.

“The bills seek to amend the respective provisions to reconcile the lacuna that exists in the Act relating to the appointments of the Executive Directors of the respective Commissions to ensure uniformity,” Bamidele stated.

He recalled that the first versions of the Acts were passed earlier in 2025, ans assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

He also noted that the implementation of the law revealed that more executive directors were necessary to head various departments within the commissions to meet their developmental mandates effectively.

“With the benefit of hindsight, it was observed that there is a need to make provision for more executive directors to head the various Departments of the Commission,” Bamidele added.