The nominations are subject to Senate screening and confirmation.
By Obeten Godfrey
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ms Usoro Akpabio as the pioneer Managing Director of the newly established South-South Development Commission (SSDC).
In a correspondence to the Senate on Thursday, President Tinubu nominated a total of 55 individuals across the three commissions.
The memo listed nineteen persons for the North-Central Development Commission, with Cosmas Akiyir as Chairman and Cyril Yeltsin as Managing Director.
The South-West Development Commission has eighteen members, with Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi and Dr Charles Akinola as Chairman and Managing Director, in that order, while the South-South Development Commission has eighteen members on its board, with Chibudom Nwuche as Chairman and Usoro Offiong Akpabio as Managing Director.
An indigene of Akwa Ibom State, Ms Akpabio brings to the role a solid blend of industry expertise in the oil and gas sector, and is expected to lead the commission to harness development across the region.
The South-South Development Commission is among the newly established regional Commissions established by President Tinubu to address ecological degradation and economic disparities in Nigeria’s oil-producing region, with a focus on road infrastructure, education, healthcare, industrialization, and trade, which will help unlock the economic potential of the region, fostering job creation and improving the quality of life for millions.
The Commission is also responsible for coordinating inter-regional collaboration, while enhancing economic growth and social welfare, ensuring comprehensive development in all aspects of the region’s economy.
The nominations are subject to Senate screening and confirmation.