NCDC Funding: Senate Says Monthly Allocation Is a ‘Drop in the Ocean’

The Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) on Tuesday described the Federal Government’s monthly allocation of N2.9 billion to the commission as grossly inadequate compared to its N140 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

Speaking with journalists after an interactive session between the committee and the management of the commission, Chairman of the committee, Senator Titus Zam, said the current monthly allocation would amount to less than half of the commission’s projected annual budget by the end of the year.
He explained that the N2.9 billion monthly release from the N140 billion appropriation appears to be a temporary arrangement that is expected to improve over time.
“If you give someone that has a budget of N140 billion, N2.9 billion per month, in 12 months, it won’t be up to half of the entire budgetary sum.
“I suppose that is just a temporary package. When the commission finally comes to fruition, much more funds will be released. So we thank Mr. President, we thank the executive for dropping something now but look forward to more,” he said.
Senator Zam, however, assured that the Senate Committee would ensure the available funds are spent judiciously by guiding the commission on priority areas.
According to him, agriculture should remain a major focus because the North Central region is largely agrarian, with vast arable land, favourable rainfall and rich vegetation.
“We need the department of NCDC to take agriculture very seriously. We also have a challenge of insecurity. The commission is advised to support the security forces and state governments to complement their efforts towards mitigating the tide of insecurity within the region.
“We also ask them to take rural development very seriously because we are also rural in nature,” he said.