By Abigail Philip David
The proposed N2.4 trillion 2025 budget for regional development commissions has sparked outrage over the exclusion of the North-Central geopolitical zone, raising concerns about equity and fairness in national development.
According to the proposal, N585.9 billion was allocated to the North-West Development Commission, N498.4 billion to the South-West Development Commission, N341.2 billion to the South-East Development Commission, and N291 billion to the North-East Development Commission. However, no provision was made for the North-Central region, despite its strategic importance and long-standing developmental challenges.
The North-Central People’s Forum (NCPF), through its Secretary-General, Khaleel Bolaji, expressed frustration over the region’s omission. Bolaji emphasized the region’s history of marginalization and questioned why allocations were made to regions without final presidential approval of their commissions, as seen with the South-West and North-Central.
He urged the federal government to include the North-Central in the budget, stressing the need for balanced development. Bolaji highlighted that the region, comprising six states and the Federal Capital Territory, plays a critical role in maintaining national unity due to its diverse ethnic groups and central location.
Similarly, Sule-Dickson Audu, another spokesperson for the region, noted the North-Central’s struggles with insecurity, environmental crises, and economic setbacks. While suggesting the exclusion might have been an oversight, he called for the immediate inclusion of the North-Central to ensure fair treatment and equitable resource allocation.
Audu further explained that establishing a North-Central Development Commission would complement federal and state government efforts in tackling regional developmental challenges.
With the 2025 budget still under review, there is an opportunity for the National Assembly to address this oversight and include the North-Central region, ensuring all parts of the country benefit equitably from national resources.
