By Agrobroadcast Team
Lawmakers in the Senate have urged the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) to channel a significant share of its proposed ₦140 billion allocation for 2026 into agriculture and security, describing both sectors as pivotal to stabilising and growing the region’s economy.
The directive was issued by the Chairman of the Senate Committee supervising the commission, Senator Titus Zam, when NCDC officials appeared before the panel at the National Assembly to defend their 2026 budget proposal.
Proceedings commenced with a closed-door session, during which committee members reviewed the commission’s revenue projections, expenditure plans and programme priorities for the coming fiscal year. Emerging from the meeting, Zam told reporters that while the estimates broadly reflected the developmental realities of the North-Central zone, spending must be tightly aligned with the commission’s statutory responsibilities.
According to him, the committee scrutinised each budget line and found the proposals generally responsive to regional needs. However, he stressed that resource allocation must be strategic to ensure measurable impact across communities.
Zam emphasised that the commission’s mandate should translate into concrete projects that directly address economic and social challenges rather than remain at the level of policy articulation. He listed agriculture, security, healthcare, education, infrastructure and social services as critical sectors requiring deliberate and sustained investment.
Given the predominantly agrarian nature of the North-Central region, the lawmaker said agricultural development must remain central to the commission’s intervention framework. He noted that boosting farming activities, improving value chains and supporting rural livelihoods would have multiplier effects on employment and food security.
On security, Zam pointed out that persistent challenges including communal unrest and banditry have disrupted economic activities in parts of the zone. He disclosed that the commission is considering partnerships with security professionals and relevant stakeholders to complement the efforts of security agencies operating in the region.
While the committee endorsed the 2026 proposal, it expressed reservations over the execution of the capital component of the 2025 budget. Zam acknowledged that progress on capital projects had been slower than expected, though he observed that implementation gaps were not unique to the NCDC but reflected broader national budgetary constraints.
Despite the concerns, the committee approved the commission’s ₦140 billion estimate for the 2026 fiscal year, subject to final appropriation by the National Assembly.
The endorsement advances the legislative process and clears the path for funding that lawmakers say is crucial to accelerating development across North-Central states, particularly in agriculture and security two sectors viewed as essential to restoring stability and unlocking the region’s economic potential.