NEDC Dominates Humanitarian Ministry Budget as Intelligence Subsector Faces Funding Shortfall

NEDC Takes Lion’s Share in Humanitarian Ministry Budget

The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has described the N595 billion allocation to the intelligence subsector as grossly inadequate. The panel appealed to President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Finance to ensure the full release of the 2024 capital allocation to the security and intelligence sector in the interest of national security.

While commending the President for allocating about N4.91 trillion to the defence and security sector—demonstrating the priority given to security in the 2025 budget—the committee lamented the inadequate funding for the intelligence subsector.

Chairman of the committee, Ahmed Satomi (APC, Borno), expressed regret during the budget defence session of agencies under the Office of the National Security Adviser. He noted that while the intelligence subsector was allocated N595.02 billion, capital allocations to some intelligence agencies had not been released, and releases to others were insufficient. The allocation breakdown includes:

Capital expenditure: N274.55 billion

Overhead costs: N107.96 billion

Personnel costs: N212.51 billion

Humanitarian Affairs Budget Overview
Meanwhile, findings reveal that the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) is set to receive the largest portion of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction’s budget. Out of the total N337.31 billion allocated to the ministry, the NEDC will receive N297.59 billion—representing over 88% of the budget.

The majority of the NEDC’s allocation will fund crisis recovery programmes, service delivery, livelihoods programmes, and other recurrent expenditures. This leaves a balance of N39.72 billion for the remaining eight agencies and the parent ministry.

Budget Breakdown for Other Agencies:

1. National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA): N8.87 billion, including N1.8 billion for the controversial homegrown school-feeding programme.

2. N-Power Project: N1.8 billion

3. Government Enterprise and Empowerment Project (GEEP): N1.8 billion

4. Other Agencies:

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA): N4.6 billion

National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI): N6.3 billion

National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP): N7.04 billion

National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPWD): N2.3 billion

National Senior Citizens Centre: N1.2 billion

Parent Ministry Allocation
The parent ministry has an allocation of N7.1 billion, largely earmarked for salaries, local travel, training, office materials and supplies, and allowances.