NewsNigeriaPoliticsPlateau Govt Seeks Partnership With NCDC For Democracy Dividends 

Plateau State Government has pledged to partner with the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to enable citizens of the zone to reap more dividends of democracy.

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, made the pledge when the Board and Management of NCDC, led by the Chairman of the Board, Barr. Cosmas Akiyir paid him a courtesy visit at the New Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, on Monday.‎

Governor Mutfwang, while, congratulating the leadership of the Commission on their appointments, emphasized the importance of focusing on sustainable development that directly improves the lives of people across the communities.

He observed that development commissions in Nigeria have historically faced challenges, largely due to the politicization of leadership and diversion from their core mandates and cautioned the NCDC leadership to resist such tendencies and remain focused on the developmental objectives for which the Commission was established.

“It is about making an impact on the lives of our people in such a way that they have a better life and are able to prosper. While temporary interventions may help cushion immediate challenges, our focus must remain on long-term policies that deliver lasting benefits,” he said.

The Governor explained that the state inherited numerous abandoned projects whose completion would require enormous financial resources, attributing it to the severe infrastructure deficit in the North Central region.

“Governance is a continuum; it should not be about self-glorification. If we abandon projects started by previous administrations, the cost of completing them becomes enormous, and the people suffer the consequences,” Mutfwang said.

The governor advised the Commission to explore regional partnerships and collaborative initiatives, particularly in areas such as road networks, water supply, agriculture, and storage infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses.

He further advised the Commission to maintain strong collaboration with state governments rather than operating independently, stressing that development efforts yield better results when properly aligned with existing governance structures.

“In Plateau alone, we lose nearly 40 per cent of our potatoes and vegetables after harvest because of inadequate storage facilities. Across the region, these are areas where coordinated investments by the Commission can make a significant difference,” he said.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the NCDC, Dr. Cyril Tsenyil explained that the visit formed part of the Commission’s strategic tour of the North Central region aimed at aligning its programmes with the development priorities of the states.

“Our mandate is to conceive, plan, and implement projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the North Central region in areas such as transportation, healthcare, education, water supply, electricity, and telecommunications,” Dr. Tsenyil added.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the NCDC Board, Barr. Cosmas Akiyir, described the visit as a significant step in strengthening cooperation between the commission and states in the region and commended Governor Mutfwang for his leadership and efforts at fostering peace and unity in Plateau State.

“Your unrelenting commitment to restoring peace and order, strengthening the security architecture of the state, and fostering unity among our diverse communities is both commendable and reassuring,” noting that his approach to governance reflects sincerity of purpose and dedication to the welfare of the people.

“Your administration has demonstrated that peace, justice, and development can only thrive where leadership is guided by sincerity of purpose and a genuine love for the people.” Barr. Akiyir added.

The Board Chairman, therefore, solicited assistance to enable the commission to overcome the challenges it has been facing since its establishment, particularly in the area of logistics and operational mobility.

“One of the most pressing challenges has been the lack of official vehicles which are critical for effective mobility and coordination of our activities across the region. We have therefore come to respectfully appeal for Your Excellency’s support and intervention, while calling on the governor to provide an infrastructure for a Zonal office to be situated in Plateau State. The Governor of Nasarawa State has graciously provided us temporary office accommodation, allocated land for the construction of our permanent headquarters, and made provisions for some official vehicles to facilitate our work,” he said.