The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, has declared that the 2025 budget of the Commission will not be treated as business as usual, stressing that every allocation must be purposeful, people-centred, and aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Ibori-Suenu made this known on Tuesday during the budget defence session of the NDDC held at Conference Room 028 of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Welcoming members of the Committee, the management of the Commission, and representatives of the media, the lawmaker said the NDDC budget remains the primary vehicle through which the Federal Government delivers development to the Niger Delta region.
“The importance of the NDDC budget cannot be overemphasised. For the people of the Niger Delta, this budget represents hope, opportunity, and the promise of a better quality of life,” he said.
According to him, the responsibility of the House Committee goes beyond the mere approval of figures, as lawmakers would subject the proposal to rigorous scrutiny to ensure that allocations translate into tangible outcomes. He said the focus would be on infrastructure development, human capacity building, youth empowerment, and economic inclusion across the region.
Ibori-Suenu added that the Committee would continue to support the Commission while insisting on accountability, transparency, and value for money in project execution, noting that past challenges make it necessary to ensure that public funds are used responsibly.
“The 2025 NDDC Budget must clearly address longstanding developmental gaps, promote sustainable growth, and ensure that no community is left behind,” he stated, while wishing participants a prosperous New Year.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, presented the Commission’s 2025 budget estimates, describing it as a “Budget of Consolidation” aimed at strengthening the foundation for sustainable economic growth in the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, as well as the Supervising Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, and the National Assembly for their continued support to the Commission.
He said the current management had deliberately shifted the NDDC from a transactional approach to a transformational development model, with interventions covering youth training, entrepreneurship support, infrastructure development, and broader economic empowerment initiatives.
Giving an overview of the 2024 budget performance, the Managing Director disclosed that an aggregate revenue of N1.911 trillion was projected to fund the 2024 “Budget of Renewed Hope.” This included N76.77 billion for overhead costs and N1.820 trillion for capital expenditure.
“As of October 31, 2025, the Commission’s actual revenue stood at N1.945 trillion, exceeding the projected target, due largely to the extension of the 2024 budget implementation period to December 31, 2025,” he explained.
For 2025, Ogbuku said the Commission is proposing a total budget of N1.75 trillion, representing a 9 per cent reduction from the 2024 figure. He said the reduction is driven by a no-borrowing fiscal approach adopted by the management.
He disclosed that personnel costs for 2025 are estimated at N47.5 billion, while overhead costs are projected at N96.4 billion, adding that the Commission would sustain ongoing reforms aimed at cost efficiency and performance-based spending.
On capital expenditure, the NDDC boss said the Commission would prioritise critical infrastructure projects and adopt Public-Private Partnership models to drive sustainable development across the Niger Delta region.
“We have moved away from line-item budgeting to sectoral allocation of funds to encourage efficiency, project continuity, and contractor confidence,” Ogbuku said, adding that only activities tied to measurable programmes would receive approval.
He assured lawmakers of the Commission’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the 10th National Assembly to deliver inclusive growth and improve the welfare of Niger Delta communities.
“It is with great pleasure that I lay before this Committee the 2025 Budget Proposals of the Niger Delta Development Commission,” he concluded.
