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The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed for second reading a Bill seeking to establish the National Commission for Rural Infrastructure and Development (NACRID), a proposed intervention agency aimed at providing a coordinated framework for financing, monitoring and supporting rural infrastructure projects across Nigeria.
Sponsored by the member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency of Niger State, Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi, the proposed legislation is titled: “A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Commission for Rural Infrastructure and Development (NACRID); to Provide a Comprehensive Framework for the Financing, Coordination, Monitoring, Evaluation and Support of Rural Infrastructure and Development Programmes; to Establish the National Rural Development Fund; and for Related Matters.”
Leading the debate on the general principles of the Bill, Abdullahi said the proposed Commission is intended to provide an institutional framework for advancing the constitutional objectives of government through a coordinated approach to rural infrastructure and development.
He noted that despite decades of development planning and substantial public investment, rural communities across the country continue to grapple with severe infrastructure deficits that have hindered economic growth and social development.
According to the lawmaker, the majority of Nigerians reside in rural communities, which serve as the nation’s agricultural base and a major source of natural resources. Yet, these areas remain characterised by poor road networks, inadequate access to potable water, erratic electricity supply, weak healthcare services, insufficient educational facilities, poor digital connectivity, limited access to markets and a lack of economic opportunities.
He argued that the persistent neglect of rural infrastructure has contributed to rising poverty, unemployment, food insecurity and the migration of economically active populations to urban centres.
“No nation can attain sustainable economic growth while neglecting the communities that produce its food, supply its raw materials and sustain its local economy. Rural development must therefore be regarded not merely as a social obligation but as a strategic economic priority,” Abdullahi said.
The sponsor anchored the Bill on Sections 14(2)(b) and 16(2)(d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which respectively place responsibility on government to ensure the security and welfare of citizens and to promote infrastructure necessary for their well-being.
Abdullahi also drew lessons from the defunct Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI), noting that while the programme had its shortcomings, it demonstrated the transformative impact of targeted investment in rural infrastructure.
He explained that the proposed NACRID differs from DFRRI by being founded on principles of transparency, accountability, sustainable financing, digital monitoring, intergovernmental collaboration and legislative oversight.
The lawmaker acknowledged that several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) already have statutory responsibilities in critical sectors such as roads, agriculture, water resources, power, health, education and communications. However, he argued that there is currently no single institution responsible for coordinating, financing and monitoring integrated rural infrastructure development across the federation.
“As a result, interventions are often fragmented, funding is inconsistent, planning is sectoral rather than integrated, and many rural communities remain underserved,” he said.
He stressed that the proposed Commission is not intended to duplicate the responsibilities of existing agencies but to complement their mandates by serving as a central institution for policy coordination, financing, technical support, monitoring and performance evaluation.
“In essence, NACRID will do for rural infrastructure what TETFund has done for tertiary education and what UBEC has done for basic education by providing a dedicated intervention mechanism that mobilises resources, supports implementation and ensures accountability,” Abdullahi stated.
He further explained that the Commission would function primarily as a financing, coordination, intervention and monitoring agency rather than a project-executing body. Under the proposed framework, implementation of projects would be undertaken largely by State Rural Infrastructure and Development Boards or designated state agencies through a counterpart funding arrangement similar to the model adopted by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
According to him, states would be required to prepare Rural Development Action Plans, provide counterpart funding, execute approved projects and account for the utilisation of intervention funds, a model designed to strengthen ownership, accountability and collaboration among the three tiers of government.
Following deliberations, the House overwhelmingly supported the general principles of the Bill and passed it for second reading, paving the way for further legislative consideration at the committee stage.
If eventually enacted, the proposed legislation is expected to establish a dedicated institutional framework for mobilising resources, coordinating interventions and accelerating infrastructure development in rural communities, in line with the Federal Government’s broader agenda of promoting inclusive growth and reducing regional development disparities.
