A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Niger State,, Dr. Mohammed Santuraki, has raised concerns over what he describes as a ?glaring imbalance? in the recently constituted Board and Executive Management of the North Central Development Commission.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday forwarded to the Senate the list of 19 nominees for the newly established North Central, South West, and South South Development Commissions, seeking their statutory screening and confirmation.

In a statement on Saturday, Santuraki said Niger State was unjustly shortchanged, having been allocated only one Non-Executive Director and one Executive Director position?despite its significant political and electoral contributions to the current administration.

He noted that Niger State delivered over 375,000 votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election?the highest in the North Central Zone and the sixth highest nationwide.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, also said that Niger State had initially agitated for the location of the Commission?s headquarters but later conceded it to Nasarawa State in the interest of regional unity.

He added this concession came with the expectation that one of the Commission?s two top roles?the Managing Director/CEO or Chairman?would be allocated to Niger State.

RSanturaki said, ?So the long-awaited constitution of the Board and Executive Management of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has now been completed. While Niger State has been allocated one Non-Executive Director and one Executive Director position, we believe?firmly and respectfully?that this falls far short of what the state justly deserves.

?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 recognised 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-cultural diversity and political balance of the North Central region,? Santuraki said. ?Both top positions and the Commission?s headquarters are now concentrated in the Benue-Plateau-Nasarawa axis, leaving the Niger-Kogi-Kwara-FCT bloc unrepresented at the highest levels.?

Santuraki called on President Tinubu to urgently intervene.

?Niger State has earned its place through loyalty, sacrifice, and contribution. We seek not favour, but fairness,? he stated. (The PUNCH)

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