The Senate has asked the North‑Central Development Commission to prioritise agriculture and security in its 2026 budget.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Commission, Titus Zam, made the call on Monday when the commission’s management appeared before the committee to defend its budget estimates.
The Senate has instructed the North-Central Development Commission to prioritise agriculture and security in its 2026 spending plan.
Senator Titus Zam, who leads the Senate committee overseeing the commission, said this during the commission’s budget defence on Monday.
The committee first held a closed-door session to review the proposal. After the meeting, Zam said lawmakers found the budget items relevant to the needs of the North-Central region.
He said the committee wants the commission to focus its spending in line with its core mandate so people in the region can see real impact.
According to him, the commission’s work must address key sectors, including agriculture, security, health, education, infrastructure, and other essential services.
Zam noted that agriculture is especially important because the North-Central region depends heavily on farming. He added that the commission is also planning to work with security experts and other stakeholders to support security agencies in the region.
However, he said the committee was not satisfied with how the commission implemented the capital projects in its 2025 budget. He explained that the challenge was not unique to the commission but reflected broader national budget implementation issues.
The committee reviewed and approved a total estimate of N140 billion for the commission’s 2026 budget, which it said should be used to support development in the region.
He described the decision as the committee’s final resolution.
