The Governing Board and Management of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) are participating in a three-day retreat for Regional Development Commissions in Benin, Edo State.
The NCDC delegation is led by its Chairman, Barr. Cosmas Akighir, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Cyril Tsenyil.
The retreat, organised by the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, has as its theme: “Generating Fresh Ideas to Unlock the Potentials of the Regions.”
Speaking at the event, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of Regional Development, said the retreat was part of ongoing efforts to provide a solid foundation for the commissions to effectively deliver on the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.
Momoh urged participants to reflect deeply on their responsibilities and strengthen collaboration with the ministry to enhance performance.
He emphasised the need for the commissions to make measurable impact while avoiding duplication, waste and unnecessary administrative rivalry.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Mary Ogbe, said the retreat brought together seasoned government officials to share insights on key areas critical to the success of the commissions.
Ogbe added that older commissions would share their experiences with newer ones, while the National Regional Development Policy was expected to be validated during the retreat.
Declaring the retreat open, Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo, commended President Tinubu for establishing the Regional Development Commissions.
He urged them to work diligently towards unlocking the economic potential of their respective regions for sustainable growth and prosperity.
Chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Regional Development described the retreat as a vital platform for stakeholders to deliberate on strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the commissions.
The retreat also features presentations from experts on key governance issues.
Among them are Engr. Emeka Eze, former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, who spoke on public procurement procedures and thresholds; Prof. Tunji Olaopa, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, on institutional frameworks in the public service; and Dr Sam Amadi on Nigeria’s regional development experience.
Others include Mr Olusegun Adekunle on corporate governance, Sen. Ita Enang, on intergovernmental relations with the ministry and the National Assembly, and Dr Abdullahi Usman Bello, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, on conflict of interest, abuse of office and asset declaration. (NAN)
