The Federal Government has approved a sum of N4.26 trillion as statutory transfers to newly established development commissions for various regions in the country. According to an analysis of the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, the development commissions include the South East Development Commission, South West Development Commission, and North West Development Commission.
The North East Development Commission was not included in the list of beneficiaries. The Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper revealed that the plan was designed to foster growth and infrastructure development across various regions of the country.
The document stated that the government’s plan is to ensure that each region receives customized support to address its specific developmental needs and priorities. “The FGN’s 2025 budget estimates its aggregate expenditures at N47.90 trillion,” the document read.
This includes government-owned enterprises’ expenditures of N2.73 trillion and grants/donor-funded projects of N711.11 billion. The proposed 2025 Budget represents 36.6 per cent (or about N12.85 trillion) higher than the 2024 FGN aggregate expenditure estimate of N35.06 trillion.
The 2025 expenditure estimate includes statutory transfers of N4.26 trillion, debt expenditure of N15.81 trillion, and non-debt recurrent expenditure of N14.21 trillion. Earlier this year, the National Assembly approved the creation of the Zonal Development Commissions.
These commissions provide a foundation for the newly created Ministry of Regional Development by President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu had announced the dissolution of the Ministry of Niger Delta and the establishment of a new Ministry of Regional Development at a recent cabinet reshuffling to reflect the diverse needs of various regions.
The Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper also stated that N282.65 billion is made a first-line deduction for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund statutory transfer. Also, N231.78 billion has been set aside in the service-wide votes for GAVI/Routine Immunization.
The development commissions are expected to play a crucial role in promoting growth and infrastructure development in their respective regions. The government’s plan to provide customized support to each region is a welcome development, as it will help address the specific developmental needs and priorities of each region.
The approval of N4.26 trillion for the development commissions is a significant step towards promoting growth and infrastructure development in the country. The government’s commitment to providing customized support to each region is a positive development that will help address the specific developmental needs and priorities of each region.
The establishment of the development commissions is a key component of the government’s plan to promote growth and infrastructure development in the country. The commissions are expected to play a crucial role in promoting growth and infrastructure development in their respective regions.
