The Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) has refuted claims that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) has a N246.77 billion budget solely for salaries, calling such narratives false and misleading.

In a statement signed by Director-General Tanimu Yakubu, the BOF explained that the allocation is a consolidated statutory provision presented at an aggregate level under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). It is not intended exclusively for personnel costs.

The Office noted that incomplete budget breakdowns during preparation can create the temporary appearance of a salaries-only allocation. Personnel costs fund essential staff such as engineers, procurement officers, project managers, and monitoring teams—necessary for delivering development projects.

The BOF also clarified that the N2.70 billion capital expenditure cited by some commentators reflects a National Assembly decision to defer about 70% of capital votes to 2026, and does not indicate a lack of projects in the North East.

The statement emphasized that the NEDC is subject to robust accountability mechanisms, including the MTEF, annual appropriation acts, National Assembly oversight, quarterly performance reports, and statutory audits. The BOF urged the public and commentators to engage with fiscal information responsibly, warning that misleading claims undermine transparency and accountability.