Parliamentary group defends NEDC, dismisses N246.77bn salary claim

The Parliamentary Watch Initiative (PWI) has rejected claims that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) operates a N246.77 billion salary budget, describing the figure as a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s federal budgeting framework.

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In a statement by its convener, Amuta Amuta, the civic oversight organisation said it conducted an in-depth review of NEDC’s mandate, operations, and financial practices, concluding that the commission is functioning responsibly and within its statutory authority.

According to the group, its forensic analysis of budget documents, statutory provisions, and oversight reports showed that the commission, under its Chairman, Paul Tarfa, and Managing Director/CEO Mohammed Alkali, is performing effectively and exceeding expectations for a relatively young federal development agency.

The clarification comes amid public commentary claiming that most of the NEDC’s allocation in the federal budget was earmarked for personnel expenses, leaving only a small portion for development projects in the insurgency-affected North East.

Misinterpretation of budget figures

PWI noted that the widely circulated N246.77 billion “does not represent personnel costs alone but a consolidated statutory allocation captured at an aggregate level under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).”

The group cited a recent clarification from the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) that dismissed claims that the allocation was solely for salaries.

The BOF explained that the misunderstanding arose from a technical placeholder used during budget preparation, which could temporarily show large figures under personnel cost headings when incomplete breakdowns were provided.

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The Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, said the allegation was “misleading, inaccurate, and rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s budgeting framework.”

PWI also addressed concerns about the N2.70 billion capital expenditure cited by critics, clarifying that the National Assembly had deferred roughly 70 per cent of the commission’s capital votes to the 2026 fiscal year. The adjustment, the group said, does not indicate a lack of projects or poor performance.

They emphasised that personnel expenses in a development commission are “legitimate and necessary, covering engineers, procurement officers, project managers, monitoring and evaluation teams and other professionals required for effective project delivery.”

It added that NEDC operates under robust accountability mechanisms, including the MTEF, annual Appropriation Acts, National Assembly oversight, statutory audits, and performance reporting systems.

PWI commended the commission’s leadership, describing NEDC as transparent, fiscally responsible, and actively implementing interventions across the North-east despite the region’s development and humanitarian challenges.

Warning against misinformation

The group cautioned against misleading narratives and selective interpretations of budget figures, warning that such claims distort public perception and weaken trust in government institutions.

While welcoming scrutiny of federal agencies, PWI urged stakeholders to engage fiscal information responsibly and in good faith, ensuring that public debate does not undermine confidence in critical development programmes.