The Nigerian Senate has urged the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) to prioritise investment in agriculture and security in its proposed N140 billion 2026 budget.
The directive was issued during the commission’s budget defence session before the Senate Committee overseeing the NCDC.
Senate Committee Reviews NCDC 2026 Budget Estimates
Chairman of the Senate Committee on NCDC, Titus Zam, made the call after a closed-door session where lawmakers reviewed the commission’s 2026 budget proposal.
According to him, the committee thoroughly examined all budgetary items 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 get value for the resources allocated to them,” Zam stated.
Agriculture Must Take Priority in North-Central Development
The Senate emphasised that agriculture must remain central to the NCDC’s spending plan, noting that the North-Central region is predominantly agrarian.
Zam explained that sustainable agricultural investment would strengthen food production, rural livelihoods, and economic growth across the region.
“You know that North-Central is mostly agricultural, so agriculture must take pride of place, and it has been embedded in their budget,” he added.
Security Collaboration Critical for Regional Stability
Beyond agriculture, the Senate urged the commission to support security agencies and collaborate with security experts to tackle ongoing threats affecting communities in the region.
The committee stressed that development cannot thrive without improved security, especially in areas facing farmer-herder conflicts and other criminal activities.
The lawmaker noted that the commission’s mandate must extend beyond infrastructure to critical sectors including:
Agriculture
Security
Health
Education
Public infrastructure
Social services
Senate Expresses Concern Over 2025 Capital Budget Implementation
While reviewing the 2026 proposal, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 budget.
Zam described the slow capital execution as part of broader national budget implementation challenges but emphasised the need for improved performance moving forward.
N140 Billion Proposed for 2026 Fiscal Year
The Senate committee resolved to recommend the total estimate of N140 billion for the 2026 financial year, stating that the allocation should be utilised effectively for the benefit of the North-Central region.
“This is the resolution of the committee,” Zam concluded.
