The Budget Office of the Federation has dismissed reports suggesting that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) operates a ₦246 billion “salaries budget,” describing the claims as misleading and inaccurate.

According to the Budget Office, the ₦246.77 billion reflected against the NEDC in the budget is a statutory lump-sum provision, not a salaries-only allocation. The ₦244 billion figure cited as personnel costs is a technical placeholder used during budget preparation when agencies do not submit detailed internal breakdowns. This is a recognised procedural convention pending submissions, legislative adjustments, and approved reallocations.

The office also clarified that the ₦2.70 billion cited for capital expenditure reflects a National Assembly-approved rephrasing of the 2025 budget, with about 70 per cent of the funds rolled into the 2026 fiscal year. Project schedules show ongoing interventions across the North East, including agricultural support programmes, food security initiatives, orphanage construction and rehabilitation, IDP camp reconstruction, boreholes, security logistics, and constituency-level development projects.

The Budget Office emphasised that personnel costs are normal for development agencies, funding engineers, project managers, procurement officers, and oversight teams necessary to implement projects effectively. It urged the public and commentators to engage responsibly with fiscal information, warning that misinformation distorts the true budgetary picture.