***Alleges Ethnic Imbalance, Urges Tinubu to Intervene
A Niger State-based group, the Community Association for Grassroots Transformation (CAGRAT), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently revisit the composition of the recently constituted board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), citing gross marginalization and ethnic imbalance.
Speaking at a press briefing in Minna, President-General of the group, Alhaji Muhammadu Dagaci, said the current structure of the board lacks equity, fairness, and justice—factors which he warned could threaten unity and effective collaboration within the region.
“The placement of the Commission’s headquarters in Lafia, Nasarawa State, and the concentration of key leadership positions—the Chairman and Managing Director—in Plateau and Benue respectively, both formerly part of the defunct Benue-Plateau State, is a glaring example of exclusion,” Dagaci declared.
He argued that this lopsided arrangement sidelines other key states in the region, notably Niger, Kwara, and Kogi, and fails to reflect the diversity of the North Central zone.
“The exclusion of the Nupe ethnic group, which is the largest in the North Central region, is a fatal oversight. We view this as a deliberate marginalization and demand urgent redress,” Dagaci added.
According to him, for the Commission to fulfill its mandate, there must be fair and inclusive representation across all six member states, both in location and leadership.
“What we see now is a dangerous precedent—a Commission skewed towards a particular axis. This will not build the trust needed for development. We therefore appeal to President Tinubu to restructure the board in a way that reflects the true character of the zone,” he said.
Also speaking, Vice President of CAGRAT, Alhaji Babawachiko Yahaya, warned that concentrating leadership in one political bloc within the zone could lead to abuse of power and deepen existing fault lines.
“The North Central Commission is starting off on the wrong footing. We must not allow sectionalism to mar what is meant to be a vehicle for regional development,” he said.
The group stressed that the people of the region have long endured marginalization and called for a more inclusive approach to appointments and governance, one that reflects the ethnic, religious, and geographical diversity of the North Central zone.
“We are not against anyone, but we will no longer sit idly while our people are sidelined. We are calling for justice, fairness, and equal representation,” the leaders concluded.
CAGRAT urged the presidency and relevant authorities to urgently review the composition of the board to prevent tensions and ensure the success of the North Central Development Commission’s objectives.