The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has clarified issues surrounding its 2025 budget proposal currently before the National Assembly.

Executive Director, Corporate Services, NCDC, James Uloko, in a statement on Friday in Lafia, said the commission submitted a N140 billion proposal to the Senate Committee on NCDC as part of preparations for its full takeoff, being barely a month old.

The statement recalled that on September 30, the commission’s management appeared before the Senate to defend the proposal, where members of the committee engaged in open and closed sessions to scrutinise the estimates and receive clarifications.

According to the statement, the Senate Committee made observations and adjustments before giving approval, pending concurrence by the House of Representatives Committee.

It stressed that while the budget proposal of N140 billion remained intact, media reports failed to reflect the adjustments made during the scrutiny, which would only be captured in the final document.

“The final budget approval will only be clear when the House Committee on NCDC carries out its legislative scrutiny and concurs with the Senate, where the accurate figures and line distributions will be authenticated and released,” it stated.

The commission emphasised that the 2025 budget remained a working document still in process, and would only take effect when passed as part of the national budget.

While appreciating public interest in its activities, the commission assured that it would ensure  transparency and accountability in its operations  in line with extant financial regulations.

It also pledged to work closely with stakeholders across the North Central states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure equity and inclusivity in project implementation, guided by needs assessment and strategic consultations. 

(NAN)