By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
Abuja
The Senate Committee on North Central Development Commission and the management of the Commission have met at the National Assembly to chart the way forward for the Commission and the people of the North Central region.
The meeting was chaired by the Committee Chairman, Senator Titus Zam.
Senator Zam said the committee and the Commission agreed that the monthly allocation given to the NCDC must be used transparently to ensure visible deliverables in line with its mandate.
He disclosed that the Commission currently receives N2.9 billion per month as a takeoff package. “That is a drop in the ocean,” he said, noting that the Commission had a proposed budget of N140 billion.
According to him, N2.9 billion monthly times 12 months is still not up to half of the N140 billion envisaged, but the Committee thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the executive for enabling the Commission to take off.
Senator Zam stated that oversight visits have been agreed. The Committee will first visit the Commission’s headquarters and thereafter tour North Central states to inspect ongoing programs and projects.
On priority areas, the Committee advised the Commission to focus on agriculture, given the region’s arable land, good rainfall and vegetation.
Mining was also identified as a key area, with most North Central states having solid minerals that require support.
The Committee further urged the Commission to support security agencies and state governments to tackle insecurity, and to prioritize rural development including roads and bridges.
Senator Zam said the Commission has also been asked to showcase its development blueprint to guide performance tracking. He added that both sides agreed to work together so the Commission does not disappoint the President who signed the Act establishing it.
