News
Budget Office Rejects Claim That NEDC Has ₦246bn Salary-Only Budget
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.
News
DNKI President Champions Humanitarian Service, Sustainable Community Development
Cyril Samania
The President of De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), Chief Oliver Patrick Ityohegh, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service, stressing the importance of supporting vulnerable people and improving community welfare beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day.
Ityohegh stated this during the organisation’s Cauldron Night and Award Presentation held to commemorate its 2026 Humanitarian Day celebration, theme: “Humanity First: Advancing Hope, Dignity and Community Well-being.” organised by the DNKI Abuja Chapter.
He emphasised that humanitarian service should be a continuous responsibility driven by compassion, solidarity and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in society.
According to him, DNKI’s humanitarian activities reflect its dedication to giving back to society and supporting people in need, while encouraging members to sustain initiatives that promote human dignity and community well-being.
He added that the organisation would continue to strengthen its humanitarian engagements through practical interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people and promoting community development.
Speaking at the event, the representative of the Abuja Chapter Chairman and Chairman of its Advisory Council, Prince Efiong Okpe, said the organisation’s humanitarian activities extended beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day on October 15.
Okpe explained that DNKI undertook several initiatives throughout the year, including blood donation exercises, visits to hospitals and correctional centres, as well as support for orphanages and other vulnerable groups.
According to him, the organisation also collaborated with humanitarian bodies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to identify areas of need and provide assistance within its available resources.
He described Humanitarian Day as an opportunity for members to renew their commitment to service and demonstrate solidarity with people facing difficult circumstances.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Coordinator of the DNKI Gwagwalada Zone, Mr Etudaiye Hamzat, disclosed that the chapter had provided financial assistance to some members to help pay their children’s school fees, alongside distributing bags of rice and other relief items to members experiencing hardship.
Hamzat explained that the interventions followed concerns over the difficulties some members faced in meeting their family responsibilities, particularly the rising cost of their children’s education.
He maintained that supporting members in need was consistent with the organisation’s humanitarian principles, adding that DNKI remained committed to extending assistance to non-members and vulnerable communities as part of its commitment to leading by example.
Looking ahead, Hamzat said the Abuja Chapter planned to expand its humanitarian outreach to remote communities within the FCT, with particular attention to orphanages, schools and widows facing difficulties in meeting their family responsibilities.
He also recalled previous interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), which included the distribution of food, clothing and educational materials, noting that the chapter intended to scale up such initiatives in the coming year.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding members and distinguished non-members in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian service.
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