By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The Parliamentary Watch Initiative (PWI) has addressed claims regarding the North East Development Commission (NEDC), stating that reports of a N246.77 billion salaries budget are inaccurate and reflect a misunderstanding of Nigeria’s budgeting process.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Amuta Gabriel Amuta, the civic oversight group said it conducted a review of the commission’s mandate, operations, and financial structure. The findings, it noted, showed that the NEDC is operating within its statutory responsibilities.

According to PWI, the N246.77 billion figure often cited in public discussions represents a consolidated statutory allocation captured under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), not personnel costs alone. It referenced a clarification by the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF), which explained that incomplete budget breakdowns during preparation could temporarily cause figures to appear under personnel cost headings as placeholders.

The group also noted that the N2.70 billion capital expenditure figure was the result of a National Assembly adjustment deferring a portion of the commission’s capital votes to the 2026 fiscal year. It stressed that this did not indicate poor performance or a lack of projects.

PWI emphasized that personnel costs in a development commission are legitimate, covering professionals such as engineers, procurement officers, project managers, and monitoring teams required for effective project delivery. It added that the NEDC remains subject to accountability mechanisms, including the MTEF, annual Appropriation Acts, National Assembly oversight, statutory audits, and performance reporting.

The group encouraged stakeholders to engage fiscal information responsibly, noting that accurate interpretation of budget figures is essential to maintaining public trust and confidence in development institutions.