The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has flayed the Federal Government for omitting the North Central Development Commission following the allocation of N2.493 trillion to five other regional development commissions in the proposed 2025 budget.
As outlined in the N49.7 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill currently under review at the National Assembly, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) got N776.53 billion, North West Development Commission (NWDC) got N585.93 billion, South West Development Commission (SWDC) got N498.40 billion, South East Development Commission (SEDC) got N341.27 billion, and North East Development Commission (NEDC) got N291 billion.
Only the North Central Development Commission was omitted from the allocation.
In a Wednesday statement, Obi called on the Federal Government to immediately correct the anomaly.
He said that the North Central’s status as the agricultural backbone of the nation makes it deserving of special attention given the challenges it faces, including banditry and terror attacks.
Obi said, “The exclusion of the North Central Regional Commission from the budgetary allocations provided to other Regional Commissions in the 2025 proposed budget is deeply troubling and must be urgently reversed. Such an anomaly does not make for even development and peace that is needed for progress in the country.
“A total of N2.493 trillion has been allocated to five regional development commissions, with the North Central Regional Commission glaringly omitted.
“The North Central region requires special attention due to the severe challenges it faces today. Relentless terror attacks and banditry in Plateau, Benue, Kogi, and Niger States have caused immense suffering, resulting in significant loss of lives and forcing countless families into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. These persistent tragedies have made the North Central one of the most affected and vulnerable regions in Nigeria.
“Known as the agricultural backbone of the nation, the North Central region deserves robust support to enhance security, stability, and development for the benefit of the entire country.
“I, therefore, call on the government and National Assembly to urgently review and rectify this decision that will impact negatively on the region and area most needed for the development of the country.”
Credit: The Sun