Prominent political figures in Niger State have expressed strong dissatisfaction with what they describe as inadequate representation in the newly constituted Board and Executive Management of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).
In a statement issued by a key All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholder in the state, Dr. Mohammed Santuraki, the group described the allocation of only one Executive Director and one Non-Executive Director position to Niger State as “falling far short” of what the state justly deserves.
Dr. Santuraki anchored the concerns on two main grounds: Niger State’s overwhelming support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 elections and the state’s earlier concession in the contest for the location of the NCDC headquarters.
“Let us revisit the facts: during the 2023 presidential election, Niger State delivered over 375,000 votes—the highest in the North Central Zone, the fourth highest in Northern Nigeria, and sixth nationally.
“In addition, we secured two out of three senatorial seats, 70% of House of Representatives seats, and delivered an APC governor. This strong show of support cannot and should not be overlooked.
“Furthermore, Niger State initially contested for the location of the NCDC headquarters alongside Nasarawa State. We graciously stepped down and conceded the Headquarters location to Nasarawa.
“Our expectation was clear: that this concession would be recognized through the allocation of at least one of the Commission’s two principal positions—either the Managing Director/CEO or Chairman. Disappointingly, we received neither.
“This decision is not only unfair, but also undermines the delicate ethno-cultutal and political balance of the North Central region.“
The stakeholders lamented that despite this loyalty and support, Niger State was not considered for either of the Commission’s principal leadership positions—Managing Director/CEO or Chairman—both of which went to the Benue-Plateau-Nasarawa bloc, which also hosts the Commission’s headquarters.
They argued that the current composition fails to reflect the ethno-cultural and political balance within the region, which is broadly divided between the Benue-Plateau-Nasarawa and the Niger-Kogi-Kwara-FCT blocs.
The statement concluded with a respectful appeal to President Tinubu to redress the “glaring imbalance,” stating, “We seek not favour, but fairness.”
