The Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has approved the agency’s 2025 budget proposal of N140 billion, urging the commission to ensure transparent and accountable use of the funds once passed by the Senate.
The approval, announced on Tuesday by the Committee Chairman, Senator Titus Zam, followed a budget defence session presented by NCDC Managing Director, Mr. Tsenyil Yiltsen, before lawmakers.
Senator Zam said the committee’s decision came after “a careful review of the provisions in the budget and the eloquent presentation by the MD and his team.”
Presenting the breakdown, Yiltsen explained that the Federal Government allocated N140 billion to the commission for the 2025 fiscal year, with N100 billion dedicated to capital expenditure across the six North Central states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The remaining N40 billion, he said, would cover recurrent costs, including overheads and personnel.
The NCDC boss emphasised that the capital allocation would not be tied to a single project but distributed across several sectors, covering eight thematic areas such as security, agriculture, mining, environmental degradation, education, health, and road construction.
“We will carry out proper needs assessments in all the states and ensure fairness in project distribution across the zone and the FCT,” Yiltsen assured.
He further disclosed that part of the N40 billion recurrent vote would fund salaries for 200 new staff, pending approval by the Office of the Head of Service.
While commending the commission’s budget defence, the committee urged prudence in managing the funds, particularly the N100 billion capital component. It also called on the governments of the six benefiting states and the FCT to provide office accommodation for NCDC branches in their jurisdictions.
