The Budget Office of the Federation has dismissed claims that the North East Development Commission operates a N246 billion salaries budget.
Tanimu Yakubu, director general of the Budget Office, said in a statement on Thursday that the assertion is incorrect and misleading.
He explained that the ₦246.77bn figure is a statutory lump-sum provision presented at an aggregate level, in line with standard budget practices under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for statutory and quasi-statutory bodies.
Yakubu said the suggestion that ₦244bn of the allocation is solely for personnel costs is factually wrong.
He clarified that the sum covers the commission’s total annual allocation, not just salaries.
He noted that during budget preparation, when agencies do not submit complete internal economic breakdowns, allocations may temporarily appear under the personnel cost heading as a technical placeholder.
Yakubu said this is a procedural convention, pending detailed submissions, legislative adjustments, and approved reallocations during budget execution.
He emphasized that this technical presentation should not be confused with actual spending intent.
Regarding capital expenditure, Yakubu said the ₦2.70bn cited in public discussions reflects National Assembly-approved rephrasing of 2025 budget votes, with about 70 percent rolled into the 2026 fiscal year.
He explained that the adjustment was a legislative decision on timing and sequencing of appropriations and does not imply a reduction in development projects.
Yakubu said the funds will support ongoing projects across the North East, including agricultural programs, food security initiatives, orphanage construction and rehabilitation, IDP camp reconstruction, boreholes, security logistics, and constituency-level development projects.
He warned that selective reading of a single budget line while ignoring detailed schedules is misleading and distorts the facts.
Yakubu said personnel costs are a normal and necessary part of any development commission.
He explained that salaries fund engineers, procurement officers, project managers, monitoring and evaluation teams, and fiduciary oversight required to deliver projects effectively.
Yakubu stressed that no development institution can operate without skilled personnel.
He said the NEDC functions within strict accountability frameworks, including the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, annual Appropriation Acts, National Assembly oversight, quarterly budget performance reports, and statutory audits.
Yakubu urged public commentators to understand the budget system before making claims, saying misinformation does not promote accountability.
He added that assertions suggesting the NEDC exists only to pay salaries are unfounded and ignore evidence of ongoing development initiatives.
The Budget Office called on the public to engage responsibly with fiscal information to ensure informed discussions on national development.
