Shettima sets delivery targets for SWDC on roads, jobs
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- Vice President Kashim Shettima urged the South-West Development Commission (SWDC) to focus on tangible outcomes like infrastructure and job creation.
- He emphasized that the commission's success should be measured by its impact on communities, not just internal processes.
- Shettima stressed the importance of collaboration with state governments, traditional institutions, and the private sector for regional development.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed the South-West Development Commission (SWDC) to prioritize measurable results, such as building roads, creating jobs, and transforming communities, rather than focusing solely on its internal operations. Shettima conveyed this directive during a meeting with the commission's management at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking to the delegation led by board chairman Olubunmi Adetunmbi, Shettima articulated the vision behind establishing regional development commissions. He stated that these bodies are intended to leverage the unique strengths of each geopolitical zone to foster Nigeria's collective prosperity. "Your commission must be known for delivery, not bureaucracy. Nigerians will measure your success by the quality of roads built, jobs created, businesses supported, and communities transformed," he asserted.
Your commission must be known for delivery, not bureaucracy. Nigerians will measure your success by the quality of roads built, jobs created, businesses supported, and communities transformed.
The Vice President highlighted the South-West region's historical strengths in enterprise, innovation, education, and industry, positioning it to play a crucial role in Nigeria's development. He stressed that successful regions globally invest in innovation, human capital, technology, and regional integration, areas where the South-West is well-positioned to lead.
The South-West region, with its history of enterprise, innovation, education and industry, has a pivotal role to play in Nigeria’s development journey.
Shettima underscored collaboration as essential for the commission's effectiveness. He urged the SWDC to work closely with state governments, traditional institutions, the private sector, and development partners, cautioning against viewing other regional bodies as competitors. "Development succeeds when institutions collaborate, not compete," he noted, advocating for peer review and idea sharing among regional commissions.
Adetunmbi, in his remarks, commended President Bola Tinubu's administration for its economic reforms and the establishment of regional development commissions. He also praised Shettima's leadership at the National Economic Council for driving governance improvements. Adetunmbi briefed the Vice President on the commission's roadmap for infrastructure and human capital development, including plans for a baseline study, and sought guidance on harmonious inter-agency collaboration.
Development succeeds when institutions collaborate, not compete.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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