South South Commission Sparks Niger Delta Funding Debate
posted 9th May 2025
South South Commission Sparks Niger Delta Funding Debate
9 May 2025
The recent establishment of the South South Development Commission (SSDC) in Nigeria has ignited a heated debate about the efficacy of regional development strategies and the management of public funds. Critics, including prominent commentator Kelvin (@realkelvin07), argue that the new commission duplicates existing structures, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and fails to address deeper systemic issues like fiscal federalism.
The Niger Delta, a region critical to Nigeria’s oil-driven economy, already benefits from multiple federal interventions. These include the NDDC, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty, and, until recently, a dedicated Ministry of Niger Delta, now restructured as the coordinating Ministry of Development Commissions. The creation of the SSDC, intended to further support the South South region, has raised questions about redundancy and accountability.
Kelvin, in a post on X, questioned the rationale behind the SSDC, stating, “The Niger Delta already has the Niger Delta Development Commission… Please explain the point in giving them South South Development Commission in addition to NDDC.” His concerns echo a broader sentiment that additional commissions may serve as political appeasement rather than drivers of sustainable development.
A 2020 forensic audit of the NDDC, which revealed that over 6 trillion Naira (approximately £2.5 billion at current exchange rates) allocated between 2001 and 2019 was largely misappropriated, has further fuelled scepticism. The audit, followed by a 2021 Senate investigation, uncovered 12,128 abandoned or poorly executed projects across the Niger Delta, highlighting systemic inefficiencies and corruption.
Kelvin pointedly asked, “Has NDDC accounted for over 6 trillion Naira that was flagged in an audit?” This question underscores the lack of transparency-кай and accountability that continues to plague regional development efforts. Critics argue that creating new commissions without addressing these issues risks perpetuating a cycle of waste and unfulfilled promises.
The politics of regional commissions is often framed as a response to agitation in resource-rich areas like the Niger Delta. However, Kelvin and others contend that this approach—described as “compensate them so they can stop agitation”—is shortsighted. Instead, they advocate for fiscal federalism, a system that would grant states greater control over their resources and revenue. “Only fiscal federalism will unlock regional development,” Kelvin asserted, reflecting a growing call for structural reforms to address Nigeria’s uneven development.
Proponents of the SSDC argue that it could complement existing efforts by focusing on specific regional challenges, such as environmental degradation and infrastructure deficits. The NDDC, for instance, recently adopted a new Regional Development Master Plan and secured N10 billion for entrepreneurial programmes, indicating a commitment to reform. However, without clear mechanisms to prevent overlap with the NDDC and ensure accountability, the SSDC risks being perceived as a political manoeuvre rather than a genuine development tool.
The debate over the SSDC comes at a time when Nigeria faces significant economic challenges, including a soaring national debt of N138 trillion and a 2025 federal budget of N54.2 trillion, the largest in its history. Critics argue that funds allocated to new commissions could be better used to address pressing needs, such as infrastructure and social programmes, particularly in the Niger Delta, where oil pollution and poverty remain rampant.
As Nigeria grapples with these issues, the call for fiscal federalism grows louder. Advocates argue that empowering states to manage their resources would foster competition, innovation, and accountability, reducing reliance on federal handouts.
