By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
A coalition of youths from across the North Central zone has recognized Senator Simon Mwadkwon for his pivotal role in the establishment of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), describing him as a key figure in the legislative push that led to its creation.
The youths, under the aegis of the North Central Youths Movement, visited the former Senate Minority Leader in Jos, Plateau State, on Sunday, marking the beginning of their engagements with lawmakers and stakeholders who played crucial roles in securing the commission’s approval.
Led by their convener, Alex Audu, the delegation recounted how their advocacy for the commission began in 2016, culminating in Mwadkwon’s sponsorship of the North Central Development Commission (Establishment) Bill HB 23 in 2019 while he was in the House of Representatives.
Despite its passage in 2021, the bill was not signed into law by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. It was later revived in the Senate, co-sponsored by Senator Abba Moro (Benue South) and other lawmakers from the region, and eventually received President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assent.
Addressing the youths, Mwadkwon expressed gratitude for their recognition, acknowledging the political struggles and setbacks that initially stalled the bill. He recalled how, despite a near-fatal accident in May 2021, he pushed forward with the second reading.
“I had already done the first reading in 2019. After being discharged from the hospital, I regained some strength and insisted on presenting the second reading while standing, even when the Speaker offered me a seat,” he said.
He also reflected on the widespread debates over ownership of the bill, stating that personal credit was never his priority. “When you have a dream and it becomes reality, even if not during your tenure, you should be able to appreciate it. I remained silent despite the arguments on social media because I knew the history,” he remarked.
The former lawmaker, who previously served on the House Committee for the North East Development Commission, emphasized the urgent needs the NCDC must address, including the resettlement of displaced persons, ecological challenges, and critical infrastructure deficits. “We lack hospitals, schools, and even proper roads. The Akwanga-Jos road, for instance, is a death trap,” he noted.
The delegation included Alex Audu from Plateau State, Muhammad Saba from Niger State, Dominic Anyebe from Benue State, Bello Nakre from Nasarawa State, Ibrahim Jimoh from Kwara State, and Gabriel Mishark from the Federal Capital Territory. They commended lawmakers who later co-sponsored the bill and saw it through the 10th Senate.
President Tinubu’s signing of the NCDC bill was earlier announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, officially establishing the commission, which is expected to drive economic development, reconstruction, and rehabilitation in the North Central region.
