The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has presented its N1.74 trillion 2025 budget to the House of Representatives for consideration and approval.
Presenting the proposal to the House Committee on NDDC in Abuja, the Managing Director of the commission, Mr Samuel Ogbuku, said the budget is titled “Budget of Consolidation.”
Ogbuku explained that the proposed expenditure represents a nine per cent reduction from the 2024 budget, driven by a no-borrowing revenue approach.
According to him, N47.5 billion is allocated for personnel costs, while N96.4 billion is earmarked for overhead expenditures.
He said the 2025 budget is designed to strengthen the commission’s foundation for sustainable economic growth, marking a shift from transactional to transformational interventions.
“A major focus is sectoral funding allocation, moving away from line-item budgeting, which has hindered contractors from resuming abandoned projects,” Ogbuku said.
He added that investment in critical infrastructure remains central to the commission’s fiscal strategy, noting that the current management is adopting a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to drive sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku further said the proposed fiscal reforms would introduce a new performance management framework aimed at regulating overhead costs.
In her remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, Rep. Henrietta Ibori (PDP-Delta), described the NDDC budget as the principal instrument through which the Federal Government delivers development to communities in the Niger Delta.
She said the committee would subject the budget to rigorous scrutiny to ensure that allocations translate into tangible outcomes, particularly in infrastructure development, human capacity building, youth empowerment and economic inclusion.
Ibori noted that the 2025 NDDC budget would be people-centred and aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This budget must address longstanding developmental gaps, promote sustainable growth and ensure that no community is left behind,” she said.
She pledged the committee’s constructive support for the commission, while insisting on accountability, transparency and value for money in the implementation of approved projects and programmes.
