R-L: Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, and the MD/CEO, North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Dr Cyril Tsenyil, during the official handover ceremony of the NDDC headquarters complex in Lafia on Tuesday.(NAN).
The NDDC headquarters complex in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.(NAN).
Sunday John
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has officially handed over a fully furnished office complex, which he earlier pledged to donate on behalf of the state government to the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), to enable its immediate takeoff at its headquarters in Lafia, the state capital.
Speaking at the handover ceremony on Tuesday in Lafia, the governor said that the handover was a fulfillment of the pledge he made during the inauguration of the NCDC management and board, as well as his unwavering commitment to ensuring the smooth takeoff of the commission.
According to the governor, the event is historic as it officially marks the commencement of the operations of the NCDC, which he described as “long awaited”.
He also promised to provide temporary official residential accommodation to the commission’ board members and management of the commission to enable them to quickly settle down and commence operation.
The governor also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for finding it expedient to establish the NCDC, as well as members of the National Assembly, for ensuring that the law for creating the commission was promptly passed in both chambers.
Sule also thanked his fellow governors from the North-Central geopolitical zone for coming together to ensure the seamless take-off of the commission.
Sule said: “All the governors and members of the National Assembly from the zone will meet with you in Abuja on Thursday, Sept. 18, to see how we can all support you with logistics for a smooth take off.
“We want to work together and own the commission collectively to avoid any friction as witnessed in other places.”
Dr Cyril Tsenyil, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NCDC, said that the governor’s gesture justified why people jubilated when Lafia was announced as the headquarters of the commission.
“Today, you have proven that, indeed, the decision was not misplaced through your efforts to ensure that we hit the ground running without any challenges.
“Apart from giving us a temporary office facility to use as a liaison office in Abuja, you have today fulfilled your promise to hand over to us a fully furnished office complex which will serve as the headquarters of NCDC.
“As we settle down to business, I want to assure you that we will collaborate with all governors and other stakeholders in the zone to improve the infrastructure and living conditions of our people,” Tsenyil said.
According to him, the NCDC owes the governor a great debt of gratitude, and its history will never be complete without mentioning his name.
The MD appreciated the president for the confidence reposed in them and promised to discharge their duties with the fear of God to complement the developmental gaps in the zone.
He, however, noted that the commission needed some operational takeoff vehicles and land allocation, among others because it was still grappling with some constraints bordering on the NCDC’s annual budget, and solicited Sule’s support.
Also speaking, commission’s board chairman, Cosmas Akighir, in a brief remark, appreciated the governor for being a good host and for donating the NCDC headquarters office complex.
He described the fully finished and furnished office complex, which is complete with state-of-the-art facilities for the commission as very befitting.(NAN)
