The Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) has dismissed reports claiming that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) operates a ₦246.77 billion salaries budget, describing the narrative as inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, the Office clarified that the ₦246.77 billion allocation linked to the NEDC is a statutory provision presented in aggregate form under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and does not represent personnel costs alone.
According to the BOF, the claims stem from a misunderstanding of the Federal Government’s budgeting structure. It explained that statutory and quasi-statutory bodies are often allocated lump-sum figures at the framework stage, which are later broken down into personnel, capital, and overhead components during the appropriation process.
The Office also debunked assertions that about ₦244 billion was strictly assigned to salaries, noting that provisional budget entries may temporarily appear under personnel cost headings as technical placeholders when full expenditure details are not yet finalised.
Responding to concerns over the relatively small capital expenditure figure of ₦2.70 billion, the Budget Office said the amount resulted from a legislative decision by the National Assembly to defer approximately 70 per cent of capital allocations to the 2026 fiscal year. It stressed that this adjustment does not indicate an absence of projects or development activities in the North East.
The BOF further explained that personnel costs are a legitimate and necessary component of development commissions, covering professionals such as engineers, project managers, procurement officers, and monitoring teams required for effective project delivery.
Reiterating its commitment to transparency and accountability, the Office noted that the NEDC remains subject to oversight mechanisms, including the MTEF, annual Appropriation Acts, National Assembly supervision, statutory audits, and performance reporting.
While welcoming public scrutiny, the Budget Office urged commentators to engage fiscal data responsibly, warning that misrepresentation of budget figures undermines accountability and public trust.
