The Senate has reaffirmed its earlier decision to retain Lafia as the headquarters of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), as stipulated in the principal act of the bill establishing the commission, which was recently signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The decision followed a motion presented by Senator Aliyu Ahmad Wadada, who urged the Senate to affirm its position as outlined in the bill, contrary to claims suggesting that the commission’s headquarters would be in Minna, Niger State.
Senator Wadada emphasized that the motion was aimed at clarifying and eliminating any doubts regarding the content of the act.
He further recommended that the Senate rescind any misconceptions and stand by its original decision to retain Lafia as the commission’s headquarters.
“The senate resolve to rescind its decision on clause 2 of the bill and retain the provision of the principal Act which provided that the headquarters to be in Lafiya Nasarawa state”
Commenting on the issue, Senate President Godswill Akpabio explained that the reason Minna was not chosen as the headquarters was discussed during the public hearing. He noted that Minna already serves as the headquarters of HYPPADEC, and there was a need to decentralize development, which is why Lafia was selected.
The decision was unanimously agreed upon by the majority of senators when Senate President Akpabio put it to a voice vote.
“Those in support of Lafia as the capital of the North Central Development Commission, say ‘Yes.’ Those against, say ‘Nay.’ The ‘Yes’ have it.”
Similarly, while explaining the purpose of the bill, the sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives, Hon. Jeremiah Umaru, stated that the objective of establishing the commission is to bring development closer to the people, foster unity, and address ethnic conflicts between farmers and herders to boost socioeconomic activities in the region.
“This commission will work to settle and resettle our people, rebuild communities, and revitalize the region. Most importantly, it aims to foster unity in the North Central region, which is currently the most divided in the country,” he said.
Hon. Jeremiah further emphasized that with the establishment of the commission, the region’s vast potential can be properly harnessed, including the utilization of mineral resources and the proper development of the Niger and Benue basins for agricultural activities and other economic benefits.
Cov/Bashir M
