By Mo. Hanif
In a decisive legislative move, the Nigerian Senate has amended key provisions of the laws establishing the North-West, South-West, and South-East Development Commissions, as well as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Trust Fund Establishment Bill. This amendment aims to align the funding clauses with Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, ensuring that all funds accrued are properly channeled through the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The amendments, which were passed during a plenary session, include revising clauses 14 and 15 of the development commissions’ acts and clause 4(1) of the NYSC Trust Fund bill. A key provision in the revised legislation mandates that 15% of statutory allocations from member states be directed toward financing the newly created regional development commissions. This move is expected to provide a steady financial base for these commissions to address infrastructure deficits and economic growth in their respective regions.
However, the decision has sparked debates within the Senate, with concerns that states may challenge the funding model in court. Despite this, Senate President Godswill Akpabio defended the amendments, citing Section 162(4) of the Constitution, which grants the National Assembly the authority to appropriate funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and the Federation Account.
With the amendments now passed, the bills will be transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent. If signed into law, the revised framework is expected to provide a more structured and constitutional approach to funding regional development projects and the NYSC Trust Fund, ensuring long-term sustainability.
