BY CHIJIOKE CHARLES
The Senate has charged the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to make agriculture, rural development, security, mining and critical infrastructure its top priorities to fast-track economic growth and improve the living conditions of people across the North-Central region.
The directive came from the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission, Senator Titus Zam, after a closed-door meeting with the commission’s management in Abuja on Tuesday.
Afrilensnews gathered that the meeting focused on the commission’s funding, implementation timeline and development priorities, with both parties agreeing on key steps to ensure the agency delivers on its statutory mandate.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Zam described the engagement as productive, revealing that the committee and the commission had agreed on timelines for executing critical programmes.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has already begun releasing monthly allocations to the commission but noted that the funds remain inadequate to meet its responsibilities.
“There is always a gap between our wishes and reality,” Zam said.
The lawmaker stressed that the available resources must be managed prudently to guarantee tangible results.
“We want to see clear deliverables consistent with the commission’s mandate,” he stated.
Zam announced that the Senate committee would immediately commence oversight visits, beginning with the commission’s headquarters before inspecting projects across the North-Central states.
According to him, the committee will work closely with the commission to ensure effective service delivery and meet the expectations of Nigerians.
“We do not want to disappoint President Bola Tinubu,” he added.
On the commission’s finances, the senator revealed that the NCDC currently receives about ₦2.9 billion every month, describing the amount as grossly insufficient considering the scale of its assignment.
He explained that although the commission has a budget of ₦140 billion, the monthly releases fall significantly below what is required to drive meaningful development.
“We appreciate the President for providing a take-off package, and we expect additional funding as the commission fully comes on stream,” he said.
Zam urged the commission to channel substantial investments into agriculture, noting that the North-Central region possesses fertile land, favourable weather and enormous agricultural potential capable of boosting food production nationwide.
He also identified mining as another strategic sector, pointing out that many states in the region are richly endowed with mineral resources that can contribute significantly to economic growth if properly harnessed.
The senator further called for stronger collaboration with security agencies and state governments to tackle insecurity, which he said remains a major obstacle to development across the region.
He equally urged the commission to publicly unveil its development blueprint so residents can monitor projects and assess its performance.
“People should know what the commission plans to achieve,” he said.
Zam expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting and reaffirmed the Senate committee’s commitment to supporting the commission in delivering on its mandate.
The renewed push by the Senate comes at a time when the Federal Government is seeking to strengthen regional development commissions to address infrastructure deficits, improve rural livelihoods, enhance food security and stimulate economic activities across different parts of the country.
If implemented effectively, the Senate’s recommendations could accelerate agricultural productivity, attract investment into mining, improve rural infrastructure and strengthen security across the North-Central zone. However, stakeholders say achieving these objectives will largely depend on increased funding, transparency and effective project execution.
