Starrays
Benedict Iorgyer and Moses Agbe
Reps Move to Strengthen South-South Development Commission with New Funding Sources
Benedict Iorgyer and Moses Agbe
The House of Representatives has on Wednesday, 8th July, 2026 commenced the process of expanding the funding base of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), a move lawmakers say is essential to tackling the long-standing environmental, economic and infrastructure challenges facing Nigeria’s oil-producing region.
The proposal, contained in a bill seeking to amend the South-South Development Commission (Establishment) Act, 2025, was the focus of the public hearing held by the House Committee on the South-South Development Commission.
If approved, the amendment will significantly broaden the Commission’s statutory revenue streams, providing additional financial resources to support infrastructure development, environmental remediation, youth empowerment and other critical interventions across the six states of the South-South.
Chairman of the House Committee, Hon. Julius Gbabojor Pondi, said the proposed legislation is designed to place the Commission on a more sustainable financial footing by introducing new sources of funding. These include contributions from extractive industries, agricultural processing companies, allocations from the Ecological Fund and a share of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, among other statutory sources.
According to Pondi, the South-South remains one of Nigeria’s most economically strategic regions, serving as the country’s primary oil and gas hub while contributing significantly to maritime trade, commerce and industrial development.
Despite its immense contribution to national revenue, he noted that the region continues to grapple with decades of environmental degradation, poor infrastructure, widespread poverty, youth unemployment and the socio-economic impact of intensive extractive activities.
He argued that the Commission’s current funding framework is relatively limited compared to those of other regional development commissions established by the Federal Government, making legislative intervention necessary.
“The Bill before us seeks to amend the South-South Development Commission (Establishment) Act, 2025, to strengthen the Commission’s financial base and enhance its capacity to discharge its developmental mandate across the South-South region effectively,” Pondi stated.
Pondi stressed that the committee had not reached any predetermined position on the amendment, describing the public hearing as an opportunity for open dialogue and constructive contributions from stakeholders.
He urged participants to present evidence-based recommendations that would help lawmakers produce balanced legislation capable of strengthening the Commission while protecting the interests of governments, investors, regulatory agencies, businesses and host communities.
Declaring the hearing open, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, described the proposed amendment as part of the National Assembly’s broader commitment to strengthening institutions responsible for regional development.
According to the Speaker, although the establishment of the SSDC in 2025 marked an important legislative achievement, the Commission cannot effectively deliver on its mandate without adequate financial resources.
“The Bill before us seeks to strengthen the financial framework of the South-South Development Commission by introducing additional statutory sources of funding to support the Commission in the effective discharge of its mandate,” Abbas said.
He explained that the objective is to provide the Commission with a funding structure comparable to those of other regional development agencies, enabling it to better address the developmental priorities of the South-South.
Abbas acknowledged the region’s enormous contribution to Nigeria’s economy through oil and gas production but noted that it continues to suffer from environmental degradation, ecological challenges, infrastructure deficits and other pressing socio-economic issues requiring sustained intervention.
At the same time, he cautioned that any proposal introducing new financial obligations or altering statutory funding arrangements must undergo rigorous legislative scrutiny to ensure transparency, fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability.
The Speaker also reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th House of Representatives to inclusive and participatory lawmaking, describing public hearings as a vital tool for strengthening democratic governance.
“A defining commitment of the 10th House of Representatives is our resolve to build a ‘People’s House’—a parliament that is open, accessible and responsive to the aspirations of Nigerians,” Abbas said.
He added that legislation becomes stronger and more legitimate when citizens actively participate in the lawmaking process rather than remaining passive observers.
Abbas further announced plans for an upcoming House Open Week, aimed at deepening public engagement with Parliament, improving understanding of legislative processes and strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The public hearing attracted stakeholders from ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, oil and gas companies, professional bodies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and other interest groups, all of whom submitted memoranda and made presentations.
The House Committee is expected to review the submissions before preparing its report and recommendations for consideration by the full House as deliberations on the amendment bill continue.
