The Budget Office of the Federation has dismissed claims that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) operates a ₦246 billion salaries budget, describing the allegation as misleading and based on a misunderstanding of the Federal Government’s budgeting process.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr. Tanimu Yakubu, clarified that the ₦246.77 billion reflected against the NEDC in the budget is not earmarked solely for personnel costs but represents a statutory lump-sum allocation.
According to the Budget Office, such aggregate presentations are consistent with established budget preparation practices for statutory and quasi-statutory agencies under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). It explained that where agencies have not submitted detailed economic breakdowns at the initial upload stage, allocations may temporarily appear under the Personnel Cost heading as a technical placeholder.
“This technical presentation must not be confused with spending intent,” the statement said, stressing that the claim that about ₦244 billion was allocated exclusively for salaries is factually incorrect.
The Budget Office also addressed concerns over capital expenditure, noting that the ₦2.70 billion figure cited in public commentary resulted from the National Assembly’s rephrasing of capital votes in the 2025 budget, with about 70 per cent rolled into the 2026 fiscal year. It said the legislative adjustment relates to the timing of appropriations and does not signal an absence of development projects.
The statement highlighted that project schedules attached to the budget documents indicate several ongoing interventions across the North East, including agricultural support programmes, food security initiatives, reconstruction of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, borehole projects, orphanage rehabilitation, security logistics, and constituency-level development projects.
The Budget Office further noted that personnel costs are a legitimate component of development agencies, covering professionals such as engineers, project managers, procurement officers, and monitoring and evaluation teams required for effective project delivery.
It added that the NEDC operated within established accountability mechanisms, including National Assembly oversight, quarterly budget performance reporting, statutory audits, and compliance with the MTEF and annual Appropriation Acts.
While welcoming public scrutiny, the Budget Office cautioned against the spread of misinformation, urging commentators and citizens to engage responsibly with fiscal data.
“The claim that the NEDC exists merely to pay salaries is unfounded and ignores both legislative appropriation dynamics and project-level evidence contained in official documents,” the statement said.
