The Senate has advised the management of the North-Central Development Commission to focus more on agriculture and security in preparing and implementing its 2026 budget.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the NCDC, Sen. Titus Zam, gave the directive on Monday when the commission’s management team appeared before the committee to defend its 2026 budget proposal.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the committee initially held a closed-door session at the start of the budget defence to review the commission’s financial estimates.
Speaking after the executive session, Zam said the committee examined the proposed items in the budget and found them relevant to the developmental needs of the North-Central region.
“As a committee overseeing this commission, we have requested them to prioritise their expenditures in line with their mandate so that the people of the North-Central region will benefit from their services and have value for the resources that are allocated to them,” he said.
He stressed that the commission’s development responsibilities must address critical sectors of the economy and social services to meet the region’s needs.
The senator identified agriculture, security, health, education, public infrastructure, and other essential social services as priority areas.
“You know that North-Central is mostly agricultural and so agriculture must take pride of place, and it has been so embedded in their budget.
“They are also thinking about working with security experts and other stakeholders in the North-Central region to see to it that they support security agencies to deliver on their mandate,” he said.
However, Zam expressed dissatisfaction with the execution of the capital component of the 2025 budget, noting that implementation challenges affected performance nationwide.
He disclosed that the committee reviewed and considered a total estimate of N140 billion for the commission’s 2026 fiscal year.
“This is the resolution of the committee.”
The Senate’s position signals a renewed emphasis on strategic spending to enhance development outcomes across the North-Central region.
Advertisement
