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Senator Titus Zam, representing Benue North-West Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committee on North Central Development Commission (NCNDC), on Thursday, February 26, 2026, presented the commission’s 2026 budget proposal before the Senate Committee on Appropriation.
In his presentation, Sen. Zam proposed a total budget of ₦140 billion for the NCNDC, with ₦121,216,963,155.30 (86.59%) allocated to capital expenditure. Recurrent expenditure was put at ₦13,876,735,474.84 (9.91% of the total), while personnel costs stood at ₦4,906,301,369.86 (3.50%).
The senator highlighted that the commission received no funding in the 2025 fiscal year, leading to the suspension of several projects and strategic interventions. He explained that the 2026 proposal is designed to revive stalled initiatives, accelerate infrastructural development, drive economic revitalisation, and support other critical interventions aimed at fast-tracking political and socio-economic growth across the North Central region.
Sen. Zam respectfully requested an additional ₦60 billion allocation to raise the total budget to ₦200 billion, arguing that this would enable the commission to adequately meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the North Central zone.
The budget presentation reflects ongoing efforts to operationalise the North Central Development Commission, established to address developmental imbalances and infrastructural deficits in the region. The Senate Committee on Appropriation is expected to review the proposal alongside other agency budgets as part of the 2026 appropriation process.
The development has been welcomed by stakeholders in Benue and across the North Central states, who see increased funding for the NCNDC as vital to tackling infrastructure gaps, unemployment, and other socio-economic challenges in the zone.
