Group Backs Commission, Debunks N246.77bn Salary Claim

The Parliamentary Watch Initiative (PWI) has debunked allegations that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) operates a N246.77 billion salary budget, describing the claim as misleading and a misrepresentation of Nigeria’s budgeting process.

In a statement signed by its convener, Amuta Gabriel Amuta, the group said it conducted an investigation into the mandate, operations and financial structure of the NEDC and found the commission to be operating responsibly and within its statutory mandate.

The group said its extensive forensic review of budget documents, statutory provisions and oversight reports showed that the NEDC, under the leadership of its chairman, Major General Paul Tarfa (rtd) and the managing director/CEO, Mohammed Alkali, is performing beyond expectations for a relatively young development agency.

The group explained that the N246.77 billion figure frequently cited in public discourse does not represent personnel costs alone but a consolidated statutory allocation captured at an aggregate level under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

PWI referenced a recent clarification by the Budget Office of the Federation (BoF), which dismissed claims that the allocation was strictly for salaries. The Budget Office said the narrative reflected a poor understanding of the federal budgeting framework and explained that incomplete budget breakdowns during preparation could temporarily cause figures to appear under personnel cost headings as technical placeholders.

PWI noted that the Budget Office further clarified that the N2.70 billion capital expenditure figure cited by critics resulted from a National Assembly decision to defer about 70 per cent of the commission’s capital votes to the 2026 fiscal year, stressing that the adjustment did not indicate a lack of projects or poor performance.

The group said its investigation confirmed that personnel costs 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 the NEDC is subject to established accountability mechanisms, including the MTEF, annual Appropriation Acts, National Assembly oversight, statutory audits and performance reporting processes.