Joel Ajayi

The Budget Office of the Federation has dismissed reports claiming that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) is operating a ₦246 billion budget devoted solely to salaries, describing the allegation as false, misleading and based on a poor understanding of Nigeria’s federal budgeting process.

In a statement issued in Abuja on January 15, 2026, the Office clarified that the ₦246.77 billion reflected for the NEDC in the federal budget is a statutory lump-sum allocation prepared in line with the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), not a salaries-only provision.

It explained that claims suggesting about ₦244 billion of the allocation is for personnel costs are factually incorrect.

According to the Office, during budget preparation, allocations may temporarily appear under the personnel cost line as a technical placeholder where agencies are yet to submit full internal economic breakdowns.

This, it noted, is a recognised budgeting convention pending detailed submissions, legislative scrutiny and approved reallocations during budget execution.

The Office stressed that such technical presentation should not be mistaken for actual spending intent.

Reacting to concerns over capital expenditure, the Budget Office said the ₦2.70 billion figure being cited reflects a National Assembly-approved adjustment in the 2025 budget, with about 70 per cent of the capital allocations rolled over into the 2026 fiscal year.

It said this legislative decision relates to timing and sequencing of appropriations and does not indicate a lack of development projects in the North East.

It pointed to project schedules attached to the budget, which outline ongoing and planned interventions including agricultural support, food security programmes, rehabilitation of IDP camps, construction of orphanages, borehole projects, security logistics support and constituency-level initiatives.

The Office warned that isolating a single budget line while ignoring detailed project schedules amounts to distortion rather than analysis.

Defending the inclusion of personnel costs, the Budget Office noted that development commissions require skilled professionals such as engineers, project managers, procurement officers and monitoring teams to effectively deliver projects.

On accountability, it said the NEDC is subject to multiple oversight mechanisms, including the MTEF, annual Appropriation Acts, National Assembly oversight, quarterly budget performance reports and statutory audits.

The statement, signed by the Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, urged the public to engage responsibly with fiscal information, warning that misinformation weakens, rather than strengthens, accountability.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us

Share

Share

Share

Share

Share