Senate Directs North-Central Development Commission to Prioritise Agriculture, Security in N140bn 2026 Budget
The Nigerian Senate has called on the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) to prioritise agriculture and security in its proposed N140 billion budget for the 2026 financial year.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on NCDC, Titus Zam, made the recommendation on Monday when the commission’s management appeared before the committee to defend its 2026 budget estimates.
The Nigerian Senate committee initially went into a closed-door session to deliberate on the budget proposal before emerging to announce its position.
Addressing journalists after the session, Zam said the committee had carefully reviewed all items in the estimates 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 and derive value from the resources allocated to them,” he said.
He stressed that the commission’s mandate must address critical sectors including agriculture, security, health, education, infrastructure, and other essential social services.
“North-Central is predominantly agricultural, so agriculture must take pride of place, and it has been embedded in their budget,” Zam noted.
He added that the commission is also exploring collaboration with security experts and regional stakeholders to strengthen support for security agencies operating in the zone.
However, the lawmaker expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 budget, describing the challenge as part of broader national implementation setbacks.
According to him, the committee resolved to recommend the appropriation of N140 billion for the commission in 2026, emphasising that the funds must be effectively utilised for the benefit of the region.
“This is the resolution of the committee,” Zam stated.
The development signals the Senate’s push for targeted investments in agriculture and security as key pillars of growth and stability in the North-Central region. Read More
