The Managing Director of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Mr Tsenyil Yiltsen, appeared before the Senate on Tuesday to seek approval of the National Assembly for his agency 2025 Budget.
A sum of N140billion was presented before the Senate Committee on NCDC for its endorsement.
Addressing journalists after a closed door meeting with the Managing Director of the Federal Government intervention agency for the North Central region, Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Titus Zam, disclosed that ‘After a careful look at the issues contained in the budget and the eloquent presentation by the MD and his team, the committee has approved the budget of N140 billion as presented by the Commission’.
In his presentation before the committee dissolved into closed door session, the Managing Director of the NCDC said the N140billion was the envelope given them for the fiscal year by the federal government out of which N100billion is earmarked for capital expenditure across the six states in the zone and the Federal Capital Territory and the balance of N40billion for recurrent expenditure covering overhead and personnel cost.
He further clarified that the N100billion for capital was not tied to one specific project but several projects across the six states in the region.
He said, ‘ We have eight thematic areas in terms of infrastructure deployment which are security, Agriculture , mining, environmental degradation , education, health , road construction etc. ‘
He assured the committee that no state in the region would be neglected as he maintained that his leadership would spread projects across each of the six states.
He said, ‘ We will go out for proper needs assessment in all the states and will be fair in the distribution of these projects in all the six states and FCT.’
He added that the bulk of the N40billion earmarked for recurrent expenditure , will be used to pay salaries of proposed 200 staff to be recruited after approval by the office of Head of Service .
The Committee however appealed to the leadership of the Commission to ensure judicious utilization of the N140billion when finally approved by the Senate , particularly the N100billion , earmarked for capital expenditure .
It also urged governments of the benefiting six states in the zone and the FCT to provide office accommodations for branches of the commission in their respective states.