The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged members of the newly inaugurated South-South Development Commission to prioritise grassroots development and align their activities with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Wike gave the charge when the Board members and management team of the Commission, led by the Chairman, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, visited him in his Abuja office on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the Minister congratulated the appointees on their selection by President Tinubu, stressing that the appointments reflected trust and confidence in their capacity to drive development in the region.
The Minister said, “The only way you can justify your appointment and make the President happy is to work tirelessly to achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President in your region. Your loyalty is to him. Make the President proud of the Commission”.
Wike cautioned the Board members against becoming tools for political division or aligning with individuals opposed to the President’s developmental plans for the region. According to him, the objective of the Commission was to deliver tangible improvements to communities across the South-South.
“One thing that is paramount is your humble self. Are you willing to work for development of your region? Are you willing to make sure that the vision and mission of Mr. President are being achieved?”, he asked.
He warned against politicising the Commission’s activities and advised the members to operate as a unified team, free from external interference capable of causing internal disunity.
Wike also outlined expectations for project implementation, urging the Commission to avoid awarding contracts without proper funding or abandoning its core responsibilities. He stressed the need for fiscal discipline and development-driven decision-making.
He urged them to ensure financial prudence, adding that they should only embark on projects that have financial backing. “Don’t award projects to satisfy selfish interests”, the Minister stressed.
Emphasising the importance of stakeholder engagement, Wike advised the team to consult state governors and other relevant authorities before embarking on projects to prevent duplication of efforts. “Go to the Governors and ask them questions. Don’t duplicate projects that the local government or state is doing,” he said.
The Minister further commended President Tinubu’s courage in establishing regional development commissions, describing the move as unprecedented.
“It’s not easy. I know what happens when several of these commissions were created. It takes courage and leadership for Mr President to have agreed to create a commission for the various regions. No former President has done it before. Leadership without courage cannot achieve anything,” Wike said.
Earlier, Nwuche expressed gratitude to the Minister for the pivotal role he played in the establishment of the Commission and the appointment of its members. He praised Wike’s leadership style and promised that the Board would emulate his record of timely and result-oriented project execution.
The Commission’s Managing Director, Miss Usoro Akpabio, also affirmed its commitment to delivering development to the region, thanking the Minister for his support and assuring him of the team’s readiness to fulfil its mandate.