The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) presented a
N1.75 trillion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year to the Senate on
Tuesday.
The spending plan was submitted to the Senate committee on
NDDC, which stated that it intends to conduct a physical assessment of projects
executed by the commission between 2021 and 2024.
Samuel Ogbuku, managing director and chief executive officer
of the NDDC, told the committee that the 2025 proposal represents a nine
percent reduction from the N1.985 trillion appropriated for the 2024 fiscal
year.
Ogbuku said the N1.75 trillion proposal comprises N776.5
billion as federal government contribution, N752.8 billion from oil companies,
N109.4 billion as revenue brought forward from 2024, N53.67 billion as
recoveries from federal government agencies, and N8.35 billion as internally
generated revenue.
He said N1.631 trillion is earmarked for project execution
across the Niger Delta, while N22.3 billion is for internal project execution.
Ogbuku added that N47.56 billion is allocated for personnel
costs and N49.929 billion for overhead expenses.
On the performance of the 2024 budget, which was extended to
December 31, 2025, Ogbuku said the commission’s actual revenue as of October
31, 2025, stood at N1.985 trillion.
He said the figure exceeded the projected revenue target of
N1.911 trillion.
Ogbuku attributed the improved revenue performance to the
extension of the 2024 budget cycle.
Following the presentation, the committee went into a
closed-door session with Ogbuku and other senior officials of the commission.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Asuquo Ekpenyong,
chairman of the committee, said the panel resolved to conduct an extensive
oversight tour of NDDC projects across the nine Niger Delta states in January
2026.
“At the closed-door session, critical reviews were conducted
on ongoing and completed projects by the commission, and the committee resolved
to carry out an extensive oversight tour across the affected nine states in
January next year,” Ekpenyong said.
“I made the case for targeted amendments to the NDDC Act to
strengthen the commission’s financial sustainability, reduce over-reliance on
statutory allocations, and position the commission for long-term impact.
“The NDDC, no doubt, executed a significant number of
projects in the outgoing fiscal year and is expected to do more in the coming
year.
“As a committee, we stand ready to support necessary
reforms, advance enabling legislation, and work with all stakeholders to ensure
that the NDDC delivers real, measurable outcomes for the people it was meant to
serve.”
Source: NDDC presents N1.75trn 2025 budget to senate committee
