The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has presented its 2025 budget of N1.74 trillion to the House of Representatives for consideration and approval.

The Managing Director of the commission, Samuel Ogbuku, who presented the budget to the House Committee on NDDC in Abuja, said the budget was titled: “Budget of Consolidation.’’

He said that the budget proposed N1.74 trillion based on revenue assumptions representing a nine per cent decrease from 2024, driven by no-borrowing approach.

According to him, N47.5 billion is earmarked for personnel cost while N96.4 billion is for overhead expenditures.

“For the 2025 budget, our main goal is to strengthen our foundation for sustainable economic growth, marking a shift from transactional to transformational approaches. A key focus is sectoral funding allocation, moving away from line-item budgeting that hinders contractors from resuming projects,” he said.

Mr Ogbuku said that investments in critical infrastructure were a key component of the fiscal strategy under the 2025 budget.

“The present management is re-navigating its process of intervention by adopting Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model as a vehicle to drive a sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.

“Our fiscal reforms shall introduce new performance management framework to regulate the overhead cost,” he said.

On her part, the Chairman of the committee, Henrietta Ibori (PDP-Delta) said that the importance of the NDDC budget could not be over-emphasised.

According to her, it remains the principal vehicle through which the Federal Government delivers meaningful development to the people of the Niger Delta.

“For our communities, this budget represents hope, opportunity, and the promise of a better quality of life. As a committee, we recognise that our duty goes beyond mere approval, it is our responsibility to subject this budget to rigorous scrutiny.

“This is to ensure that every allocation translates into tangible outcomes for the people particularly with regards to infrastructure development, human capacity development, youth empowerment, and economic inclusion,’’ she said.

The lawmaker said that the 2025 NDDC budget would not be business as usual as it would be people-centred and strategically aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the federal government.

“This budget must speak directly to the aspirations of the Niger Delta people by addressing longstanding developmental gaps, fostering sustainable growth, and ensuring that no community is left behind,” she said.

Ms Ibori pledged the commitment of the committee to offer unwavering and constructive support to the commission, while demanding accountability, transparency, and value for money in the execution of approved projects and programmes. 

(NAN)