President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved 70 high-profile appointments to three newly-formed regional commissions: the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC), the South-West Development Commission (SWDC), and the South-South Development Commission (SSDC). The full list of nominees has been submitted to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation, sparking major political interest and conversations nationwide.
The announcement, made public during a plenary session of the National Assembly and read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, is in line with the President’s commitment to balanced regional growth, inclusion, and strategic infrastructure development. With appointments drawn from all six geopolitical zones, the move has been described as one of the most diverse and expansive administrative reshuffles in recent times.
For the North-Central Development Commission, Cosmas T. Akyhir from Benue State has been nominated as Chairman, while Tsenyil Cyril Yiltsen from Plateau State takes the role of Managing Director. The commission also includes five executive directors and 13 board members representing all six North-Central states, the Federal Capital Territory, and other zones for inclusivity.
The South-West Development Commission will be chaired by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi of Ekiti State, with Charles Akinola leading as Managing Director. Sixteen additional board members have been named, with a strong representation from across the South-West region and beyond.
In the South-South Development Commission, Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche of Rivers State was tapped as Chairman, while Usoro Offiong Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State was nominated as Managing Director. This commission features the largest set of nominees — 32 in total — including five executive directors and 25 board members from states across Nigeria.
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A regional breakdown reveals 20 nominees for the North-Central Commission, 18 for the South-West Commission, and 32 for the South-South Commission. The appointments are seen as a calculated effort to bring fresh energy, professional competence, and regional representation to critical areas of national development.
Presidency sources say the selections reflect President Tinubu’s focus on transformational leadership, equity, and accountability. Each appointee is expected to drive innovation, infrastructure, and social development in their respective zones. The President has urged them to embrace the call to public service with integrity and a sense of urgency.
These landmark appointments signal a bold new chapter in Nigeria’s push for decentralized development, and the list is already generating buzz across the political and civic landscape. As the Senate prepares for confirmation hearings, all eyes are on the new appointees and what their leadership will bring to the future of Nigeria’s regional growth.
