Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has publicly condemned the North Central Development Commission (NCDC)'s exclusion from the proposed N2.493 trillion regional development budget for 2025. His comments were delivered in a message on his social media channel on January 1, 2025, in which he branded the omission as "deeply troubling" and demanded quick correction.
President Bola Tinubu's 2025 budget proposal to the National Assembly includes significant funding for five regional development commissions: the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North East Development Commission (NEDC), South West Development Commission (SWDC), North West Development Commission (NWDC), and South East Development Commission (SEDC).
However, the North Central area was conspicuously excluded from this allocation, raising worries about equal development across Nigeria. Obi stressed that such exclusion hinders attempts to achieve balanced growth and long-term peace in a nation currently dealing with several problems.
He emphasized that the North Central area, generally referred to as Nigeria's agricultural backbone, has been badly impacted by insecurity, resulting in significant displacement and misery among its inhabitants.
Terrorist assaults and banditry have been continuous in the North Central area, notably in Plateau, Benue, Kogi, and Niger states. These violent occurrences have led to severe casualties and driven countless families into internally displaced people (IDP) camps.
Obi highlighted that the exclusion of the NCDC from budgetary allocations could further exacerbate these issues, hindering much-needed development in a region already vulnerable due to ongoing crises.
In his statement, Obi remarked that 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 promote development or peace, both of which are required for the country to progress.
A review of the planned budget finds that virtually all of the N2.493 trillion allocated to the five regional commissioners would be spent on salaries rather than development initiatives. For instance, the NDDC is set to receive an allocation of N776.5 billion entirely for salaries. At the same time, other commissions like NWDC and SWDC are also expected to allocate a significant portion of their budgets to personnel costs.
This raises concerns about their capacity to deliver tangible developmental outcomes. Obi's complaint goes beyond the absence of the North Central area, asking for a reassessment of how this money is distributed among existing commissions. He cautioned that if this pattern continues, it might cause stagnation in development efforts across several areas.
In light of these events, Obi encouraged the administration and members of the National Assembly to rethink their decision to exclude the North Central area from budget allocations.
He emphasized the need to tackle this problem to promote stability and agricultural output in an area critical to Nigeria's economy. He also emphasized that we must work together to create a more inclusive and fair Nigeria. His appeal to action reflects a greater desire for national unity and collaboration across regions to address common concerns.
Obi's rejection of this fiscal choice may have larger political ramifications as well. As a major player in Nigerian politics, his perspective resonates with many residents who feel excluded or disregarded by government policies.
The North Central region's exclusion might serve as a rallying point for political debate as many stakeholders demand equitable treatment and resource distribution.
Furthermore, this circumstance provides a chance for opposition parties to capitalize on popular emotion against the current administration by emphasizing alleged inequalities in budget distribution. As Nigeria approaches future elections, problems like these are likely to impact voter attitudes and party plans.
Peter Obi’s protest of the omission of the North Central Development Commission from Nigeria's 2025 budget exposes fundamental issues over fair resource allocation and regional development. His plea for rapid correction indicates not just the immediate need for attention to this error but also reflects deeper challenges relating to national unity and stability.
As talks surrounding this subject continue, it remains vital for government officials and stakeholders to interact with people across all areas to ensure that development initiatives are inclusive and address the particular difficulties encountered by each area. The effectiveness with which these concerns are addressed in upcoming policy decisions may determine Nigeria's future development trajectory.
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