The N2.4 trillion 2025 budget for regional commissions has sparked widespread outrage, particularly over the exclusion of the North-Central geopolitical zone.

The budget includes allocations for other regions, but left out North-Central, fueling calls for more inclusion and equity. The budget proposal outlines allocations for various regional development commissions, including N585.9 billion for the North-West Development Commission, N498.4 billion for the South-West Development Commission, N341.2 billion for the South-East Development Commission and N291billion for the North-East Development Commission.

However, no provision was made for the North-Central region, thereby raising concerns about fairness and political representation. Reacting to the development, the North-Central People’s Forum, through its Secretary-General, Mr Khaleel Bolaji, expressed frustration with the exclusion.

Bolaji, who highlighted the region’s long history of marginalisation, said it was not expected that allocations would be made to regions without final presidential approval of their commissions, which he believed should have been the case for the South-West and North-Central regions.

He called for the North-Central’s inclusion in the budget while emphasising the need for equitable development across all regions. Bolaji emphasised his discontent over the exclusion, which has also fueled criticism within political circles.

He said the region, with its six states and the Federal Capital Territory, has long been seen as a critical player in maintaining the country’s unity, with its diverse ethnic groups and strategic location at the heart of the nation.

“Bolaji’s call for unity and inclusion echoes the broader sentiment that Nigeria’s development should not be at the expense of one region over another.

“The North-Central has contributed significantly to the country’s political, economic, and social fabric and its citizens continue to demand their fair share of the nation’s resources. The exclusion from the 2025 budget is seen as a stark reminder of the need for a more inclusive approach to national development,” he added.

Similarly, the spokesman for the region, Mr Sule-Dickson Audu, said North-Central had faced numerous challenges, including insecurity, environmental crises, and economic setbacks.

Noting that the exclusion could have been an oversight, Audu advocated the inclusion of the region in the budget to ensure fair treatment in national development.