Budget Office Refutes ₦246 Billion ‘Salaries’ Claim, Highlights NEDC Development Projects - Newstrends
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Budget Office Refutes ₦246 Billion ‘Salaries’ Claim, Highlights NEDC Development Projects

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North East Development Commission (NEDC)
North East Development Commission (NEDC)

Budget Office Refutes ₦246 Billion ‘Salaries’ Claim, Highlights NEDC Development Projects

The Budget Office of the Federation has dismissed allegations that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) operates a ₦246 billion “salaries budget,” describing the claim as misleading and stemming from a poor understanding of Nigeria’s federal budgeting process.

In a statement on Thursday, the Director General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, clarified that the ₦246.77 billion figure linked to NEDC in the budget is a statutory lump-sum provision, not an allocation solely for personnel. This figure is presented at an aggregate level as part of standard procedures under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for statutory and quasi-statutory agencies.

Yakubu emphasized that claims suggesting ₦244 billion is exclusively for salaries are “factually incorrect.” He explained that during budget preparation, when agencies have not uploaded detailed economic breakdowns, totals may temporarily appear under Personnel Cost as a technical placeholder. This does not reflect actual spending intent and is later detailed, reviewed by the legislature, and adjusted during budget execution.

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The Budget Office also addressed concerns about capital expenditure, noting that the ₦2.70 billion figure cited by critics arose from a National Assembly-approved restructuring of capital votes in the 2025 budget, with about 70% rolled into the 2026 fiscal year. This was a legislative decision on timing and does not imply the absence of development projects.

Attached project schedules show extensive NEDC interventions across the North East region, including agricultural support programmes, food security initiatives, reconstruction of orphanages and IDP camps, borehole projects, security logistics support, and constituency-level development projects.

The office stressed that focusing on a single budget line while ignoring detailed project schedules distorts the facts. Personnel costs, it added, cover professionals such as engineers, project managers, procurement officers, and monitoring teams essential for effective project delivery.

The statement reaffirmed that NEDC operates under established accountability frameworks, including the MTEF, annual Appropriation Acts, National Assembly oversight, quarterly budget performance reports, and statutory audits.

While welcoming informed scrutiny, the Budget Office cautioned against spreading misinformation, urging commentators to engage responsibly with fiscal information.

“The claim that the NEDC exists merely to pay salaries is unfounded,” the statement concluded.

Budget Office Refutes ₦246 Billion ‘Salaries’ Claim, Highlights NEDC Development Projects

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‎Photo News: Kwara Security Strategy Committee Submits Report to Gov AbdulRazaq

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‎Photo News: Kwara Security Strategy Committee Submits Report to Gov AbdulRazaq

 

L-R: AIG Aderemi Opadokun (Rtd); Air Commodore Asa Buhari (Rtd); Major General Abidoye Olayemi (rtd); Team Lead Kwara State Security Strategy Committee, Major General Garba Abdulwahab (rtd); Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (CON); Rear Admiral A.B Lawal (rtd); Col. A.A Lawal (rtd); Alhaji M.A Jimba; Director of Special Services Governor’s Office, Mrs. Folorunsho Idayat Adeola; and Permanent Secretary General Service, Alhaji Shuaib Yitta, during a visit by members of the committee to the state governor (to submit their report)  at the Ahmadu Bello House, Ilorin, on Wednesday.

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Rivers Police Parade Two Suspects Over Murder of Okada Rider, Theft of Motorcycle

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Rivers Police Parade Two Suspects Over Murder of Okada Rider, Theft of Motorcycle
Rivers Police Parade Two Suspects Over Murder of Okada Rider, Theft of Motorcycle

PORT HARCOURT – The Rivers State Police Command has paraded two young men arrested over the alleged murder of a commercial motorcycle operator, whose motorcycle they reportedly stole after luring him into a remote forest in the state.

The suspects, identified as 24-year-old Abubakar Sani and 20-year-old Yusuf Magaji, were arrested following an intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Emohua.

The police said Sani allegedly confessed to participating in the killing of the victim, identified as Sani Musa, before the suspects escaped with his motorcycle.

Musa, a native of Zago Town in Kafin Hausa Local Government Area of Jigawa State, was reportedly operating as a commercial motorcycle rider in Rivers State before his death.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly lured the rider to a remote forest in Mbiama, Ahoada West Local Government Area, where they attacked and stabbed him to death.

His body was subsequently dumped in thick bushes, while the suspects allegedly fled with his motorcycle.

The police further disclosed that the suspects planned to transport the stolen motorcycle to Kano State through a waybill arrangement, allegedly hoping to evade security checks and conceal the motorcycle’s origin.

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The alleged criminal operation was uncovered at about 1pm on October 22, when police operatives received intelligence that some individuals were dismantling a suspected stolen motorcycle at Choba Motor Park.

Acting on the information, operatives of the VCRU moved to the location and arrested Sani and Magaji, who were both said to be from Kano State.

During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in the murder and subsequently led investigators to the Mbiama forest, where the decomposing remains of the deceased were recovered.

The recovery of the body provided investigators with further evidence in the ongoing investigation into the killing.

The command said arrangements were being made to release the deceased’s remains to his family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites, following a request by his relatives.

The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the murder, identify possible accomplices and ensure that everyone connected to the crime is brought to justice.

The police command reiterated its commitment to combating murder, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes across Rivers State.

It also urged residents to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to help prevent criminal activities and improve public safety.

The two suspects are expected to face prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations.

 

Rivers Police Parade Two Suspects Over Murder of Okada Rider, Theft of Motorcycle

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Tinubu’s Aide Challenges Reports of Presidential Convoy Stoning at Abuja Mosque

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‘Tinubu Must Stay’ Movement Launches Ahead of 2027 Election

Tinubu’s Aide Challenges Reports of Presidential Convoy Stoning at Abuja Mosque

 

ABUJA, NIGERIA — Presidential aide O’tega Ogra has dismissed reports that President Bola Tinubu’s convoy was attacked with stones by angry youths following his attendance at Friday prayers at a mosque in Abuja.

Ogra, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, described the reports as an opposition-driven narrative, insisting that footage of Tinubu leaving the mosque presented a different picture of what transpired.

The controversy followed the President’s visit to the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja, on Friday, November 13, 2026, where he observed the Juma’at prayer.

Shortly after the visit, a video shared by former Kogi West senator and African Democratic Congress chieftain, Dino Melaye, circulated widely on social media, purportedly showing youths throwing stones at a convoy believed to be carrying the President.

Some individuals in the footage were also heard chanting slogans, including “Ba ma yi, ba ma so”, an expression of rejection.

However, Ogra challenged the account, releasing another video showing Tinubu waving to a crowd of youths as he departed the mosque in his official vehicle.

In a post accompanying the footage, the presidential aide accused opposition elements of promoting a misleading account of the incident.

“Contrary to the narrative being pushed by the opposition, with videos of their alleged paid thugs at the National Mosque today, here is footage of Mr President leaving the mosque after Friday prayers this afternoon,” Ogra wrote.

The footage showed the President, dressed in a white outfit and black cap, acknowledging people gathered around his vehicle, with some cheering and taking photographs with their mobile phones.

The conflicting accounts have generated debate over what actually happened during the presidential visit, particularly whether stones were thrown at the convoy.

While reports of hostile chanting have emerged from the scene, the allegation of stone-throwing remains disputed, with no independently verified evidence conclusively establishing that the President or his convoy was struck by stones.

The development comes amid heightened political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Earlier on Friday, Tinubu warned politicians and their supporters against political violence, thuggery and other activities capable of undermining the country’s democratic process.

In a statement personally signed by him, the President said security agencies had been authorised to confront acts of political violence and other anti-democratic activities with full force.

He condemned reported violence at political gatherings across the country, stressing that political campaigns should focus on issues that promote citizens’ welfare and national development.

Tinubu maintained that violence should have no place in Nigeria’s democratic process.

 

Tinubu’s Aide Challenges Reports of Presidential Convoy Stoning at Abuja Mosque

 

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