By Isaac Ukpoju
The Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has approved the ₦140 billion 2026 budget proposal of the North Central Development Commission.
The approval followed a budget defence session at the Senate Building in Abuja where the commission’s management, led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Cyril Tsenyil, presented details of the estimates.
Tsenyil said about 86 per cent of the proposed budget was earmarked for capital expenditure, while the balance would cover personnel and overhead costs.
He said the commission was focused on consolidating its operations and laying a strong foundation for sustainable impact through strategic projects aimed at directly benefiting residents of the North Central region.
Chairman of the committee, Sen. Titus Zam, said the budget, if properly implemented, would significantly impact the region, particularly because of its strong capital component.
Zam said the panel had carefully scrutinised the proposal and would ensure that funds were applied to priority sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, empowerment and economic development.
Other senators who participated in the review expressed satisfaction with the commission’s emphasis on projects designed to harness the region’s economic potential.
They also urged the commission to address prevailing security challenges by initiating interventions to support displaced persons and mitigate disruptions to livelihoods and commercial activities.
The lawmakers further stressed the need for sustained stakeholder engagement to ensure community participation and ownership of the commission’s programmes.
The committee later went into a closed-door session for further deliberations and, on resumption, formally approved the 2026 budget estimates. (NAN).
