Amanze Chinonye
The Budget Office of the Federation has dismissed claims that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) operates a ₦246 billion salaries budget, describing the narrative as misleading and based on a misreading of Nigeria’s federal budgeting process.
The clarification followed widespread public reaction after excerpts from the 2026 federal budget circulated online, showing a ₦246.77 billion allocation associated with the NEDC under the “Personnel Cost” heading. Some commentators interpreted the figure as evidence that nearly the entire allocation was set aside for salaries, triggering criticism over alleged fiscal excesses within the intervention agency.
In a press statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, said the interpretation was incorrect, explaining that the figure represents a statutory lump-sum provision presented at an aggregate level in line with established practices under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). He stressed that the allocation was not a personnel-only budget.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the Budget Office, during budget preparation, where agencies have not yet submitted full internal economic breakdowns, allocations may temporarily appear under the Personnel Cost heading as a technical placeholder. The office said this is a recognised procedural convention pending detailed submissions, legislative review, and approved reallocations during budget execution, and should not be mistaken for actual spending intent.
The Budget Office further addressed claims that only ₦2.70 billion was allocated to NEDC capital projects, explaining that the figure resulted from a National Assembly decision to rephase capital votes in the 2025 budget, with about 70 per cent rolled into the 2026 fiscal year. It said the adjustment related to the timing of appropriations, not the absence of development activities.
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The NEDC, established in 2017 to coordinate reconstruction, humanitarian relief, and long-term development in Nigeria’s insurgency-affected North East, oversees interventions across Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba states. The Commission is funded through statutory transfers, including allocations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and other approved sources.
Yakubu said project schedules attached to the same budget documents show multiple ongoing and planned interventions in the region, including agricultural support programmes, food security initiatives, construction and rehabilitation of orphanages, reconstruction of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, borehole projects, security logistics support, and constituency-level development projects.
He added that personnel costs within a development commission are neither unusual nor improper, noting that such expenditures cover engineers, procurement officers, project managers, monitoring and evaluation teams, and other professionals required to design, supervise, and deliver projects effectively.
Reiterating that the NEDC operates under accountability mechanisms such as the MTEF, annual Appropriation Acts, National Assembly oversight, quarterly budget performance reports, and statutory audits, the Budget Office said it welcomes public scrutiny but urged commentators to engage fiscal information responsibly.
The office warned that misinterpreting technical budget presentations risks misleading the public and undermining informed debate on government spending, insisting that claims portraying the NEDC as an agency existing solely to pay salaries are unfounded.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
