On July 15, 2026,The Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has commended the governing board and leadership of the NCDC for building a resilient institutional foundation, while simultaneously raising critical concerns over the slow release of statutory funding to the agency.
The lawmakers warned that persistent budget shortfalls risk undermining the Commission’s ability to fulfill its core mandate of driving socioeconomic development across the North-Central region.
The committee’s assessment was detailed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Dr. Makut Simon Macham, Head of Media and Corporate Communications for the NCDC, following a strategic briefing session led by the Commission’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil.
Speaking after the presentation, the Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Titus Zam, expressed satisfaction with the executive team’s vision and financial prudence despite severe resource constraints.
Having listened to the Managing Director and his team, we are satisfied with the efforts being made to place the Commission on the right footing. Despite the slow release of funds which is far below the approved budget, we are encouraged by the prudent management and vision demonstrated by the Commission. We will engage the relevant authorities to ensure more funds are released for it to achieve meaningful results.
Senator Titus Zam.
Senator Zam further revealed that committee members will shortly embark on an official oversight visit to the NCDC’s headquarters in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
During the briefing, Dr. Tsenyil expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Commission and commended the National Assembly for providing robust legislative support.
Since the agency’s inception, Dr. Tsenyil highlighted its progress by outlining several key foundational milestones such as:
State-Level Partnerships: Active engagement with the governments of Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, and Benue states. Notably, the Nasarawa State Government has donated an office complex in Lafia to serve as the NCDC headquarters, alongside similar logistical commitments from neighboring states.
Inter-Agency MoUs: Advanced legal vetting is underway for strategic partnerships with key agencies, including the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), and Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), aimed at boosting agricultural developnment, economic growth and empowerment.
Project Procurement: Procurement clearances and Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) “No Objection” approvals have been secured for priority projects under the 2025 budget.
Commercial Infrastructure: The Governing Board has approved the establishment of the NCDC Investment Company to attract alternative sources of funding and promote business developnment.
Regional Roadmap: The Board has finalized the Commission’s Strategic Development Roadmap, scheduled for public launch at the upcoming maiden North Central Regional Stakeholders Development Summit.
The Senate Committee reaffirmed its commitment to advocate for the prompt release of approved funds to allow the NCDC to roll out its full operational capacity across the region.
