The Nigerian Senate has directed the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) to focus its 2026 budget on agriculture and security, approving a total estimate of ₦140 billion for the fiscal year.
The directive was issued on Monday by Titus Zam, Chairman of the Senate Committee on NCDC, following the commission’s budget defence session. Zam stated that the committee thoroughly reviewed the estimates and found them aligned with the development needs of the North-Central geopolitical zone. He emphasised that expenditures must prioritise the commission’s core mandate to ensure tangible benefits for the region’s populace.
Agriculture was highlighted as the top priority, reflecting the predominantly agrarian economy of the North-Central states. The committee also underscored the need for the NCDC to collaborate with security experts and stakeholders to support existing security agencies in addressing regional challenges. Zam noted that the commission’s mandate must also cover health, education, public infrastructure, and social services.
However, Zam expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 budget, attributing the challenges to broader national fiscal execution issues experienced last year.
In a separate development, a scheduling dispute arose after the meeting. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) reportedly confronted the committee’s secretariat upon arriving after the session had concluded. She questioned why the budget defence proceeded in her absence, describing it as unfair given the proposal’s importance to her constituency and the wider region.
The approved ₦140 billion budget now moves to the National Assembly for final consideration. The Senate’s focus on agriculture and security signals a targeted approach to addressing the North-Central region’s most pressing economic and stability concerns for the coming year.
