Senate Urges NCDC to Prioritize Agriculture in 2026 Budget

The Senate has charged the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to prioritize investments in agriculture as part of its 2026 budget. This call was made by Senator Titu Zam, the chairman of the Senate Committee on NCDC, during a session where NCDC management defended its budget estimates.

Senator Zam highlighted the need for the NCDC to focus on agricultural security, given that the North Central region is predominantly agricultural. He stressed that the budget should reflect the importance of agriculture alongside other sectors such as health, education, and public infrastructure.

The committee expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 budget and noted challenges faced in that regard. The total budget estimate for the NCDC for the 2026 financial year is set at N140 billion, which the committee approved for utilization, emphasizing that the allocation should directly benefit the people of the North Central region.