Abuja: The Senate has urged the management of the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) to prioritize investments in agriculture and security as part of its 2026 budget. The call was made by Sen. Titus Zam, Chairman of the Senate Committee on NCDC, during a budget defense meeting where the commission’s budget estimates for 2026 were presented.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the committee, upon commencing the budget defense session, went into a closed meeting to thoroughly examine the commission’s budgetary allocations. Following the session, Sen. Zam stated that the committee had reviewed all budget items and deemed them crucial for the development of the north-central region.
“As a committee overseeing this commission, we have requested them to prioritize their expenditures in line with their mandate so that the people of north-central region will benefit from their services and have value for resources that are allocated to them,” Zam remarked. He emphasized that the commission’s development mandate must address key sectors of the economy, specifically highlighting agriculture, security, health, education, and other essential public infrastructure and social services.
He further noted that agriculture is a major component of the north-central economy, and thus, should be a primary focus in the commission’s budget. Additionally, he mentioned that the NCDC plans to collaborate with security experts and stakeholders to enhance support for security agencies in the region.
However, Sen. Zam expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 budget, attributing it to a broader national issue with budget execution.