The Parliamentary Watch Initiative, PWI, has raised concerns over the viral claims about the North East Development Commission (NEDC) budget, particularly the widely cited N246.77 billion figure.
In a statement signed by its Convener, Amuta Gabriel Amuta, the civic oversight group said its investigation shows the claim has been misrepresented as a personnel cost, when in fact it reflects a consolidated statutory allocation under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
The group explained that the N246.77 billion allocation does not solely cover salaries but encompasses statutory provisions essential for the commission’s operations.
According to PWI, personnel costs in a development commission are necessary, covering engineers, procurement officers, project managers, monitoring and evaluation teams, and other professionals critical for project delivery.
“Public discourse has often misinterpreted this figure, portraying it as an exorbitant salary budget,” the group said, adding that the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) had previously clarified that temporary placeholders during budget preparation can cause aggregate figures to appear under personnel headings, without reflecting actual salaries.
PWI also addressed concerns over capital expenditure, noting that about 70 percent of NEDC’s capital votes were deferred to the 2026 fiscal year by the National Assembly. The adjustment, the group emphasized, does not indicate a lack of projects or underperformance.
“While public oversight is essential, narratives that misrepresent allocations risk weakening confidence in key development agencies,” the group added.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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