Senate urges North Central commission to fast-track projects

The Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission on Tuesday urged the commission’s management to ensure the prompt utilisation of its monthly allocations to deliver visible projects across the region, despite concerns about inadequate funding.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Titus Zam, stated this while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting with the commission’s management in Abuja.

The North Central Development Commission was established to drive infrastructure, economic development and rehabilitation across the North Central states, particularly communities affected by insecurity and underdevelopment.

The commission is expected to complement federal and state government efforts in improving rural infrastructure, agriculture, mining and other critical sectors.

Speaking after the meeting, Zam said the committee reviewed the commission’s implementation timeline and stressed the need for accountability in the use of available funds.

He said, “What we have done is to meet with the management of the North Central Development Commission on the timelines for their activities. You know that this commission is about developing our rural communities.

“And we have heard the MD say that the Federal Government has started funding them, even though what is being given is not as much as they would expect. But there is always a gap between our wishes and reality.

“So the FG has started giving them some allocation each month. And we have met with them and agreed that those funds should be promptly used so that there will be deliverables at the end of the year in tandem with their mandate.”

According to him, the committee also resolved to embark on oversight visits beginning with the commission’s headquarters in Lafia, Nasarawa State, before inspecting projects across the six North Central states.

“We also agreed to commence immediate oversight visits first to their office in Lafia, Nasarawa and thereafter moved around the North Central states to see the programmes and projects they have executed or plan to carry out.

“So, we have all agreed to work together to support them, and they have agreed to also perform credibly to avoid disappointing Mr President Bola Tinubu, who brought this idea to fruition,” he stated.

Responding to questions on the commission’s funding, Zam disclosed that it currently receives N2.9bn monthly from the Federal Government, describing the amount as insufficient when compared with its approved budget.

He said, “Every month, they are given N2.9bn. And that’s just a drop in the ocean. For now, that’s what is being given to them. Remember that they had a budget of N140bn. If you give someone who has a budget of N140bn and he gets N2.9bn, multiply by 12 months. That is still not up to half of its budget.

“So we thank Mr President for, at least, dropping something for the take-off. I suppose that is just a takeoff funding. When the commission finally comes on stage, it is expected that much more will be released. For now, that’s what they are being given.”

The senator added that the committee had also advised the commission on priority areas that should receive immediate attention to maximise the impact of its interventions.

“That was also considered, actually. The North Central region has certain comparative advantages over and above other regions. For example, North Central is mostly agricultural land. We have arable land, good rainfall and vegetation conducive to agriculture. So, we urge the management of NCDC to take agriculture very seriously.

“We also spoke about mining. Most North Central states are into mining, which needs to be supported. We also have a challenge of insecurity. The commission is advised to support the security forces and the state government to complement their efforts towards mitigating the tides of insecurity within the region.

“We also ask them to take rural development very seriously because we are also rural in nature. Apart from state capitals and a few local wetlands, most of North Central is rural. So they have to concentrate on doing things like culverts, bridges and so on,” he noted.

Zam said the Senate committee would continue to work closely with the commission to ensure it delivers on its mandate and provides tangible development projects across the North Central region.