…Urges Optimal utilisation of Increased Budget
By Mercy Adi
The House Committee on Sports on Tuesday promised to support the National Sports Commission ( NSC), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),and the National Sports Institute (NSI), in accessing the needed funds to aid sports Development.
The assurance was made by the chairman of the committee, Honourable Kabiru Amadu, during its budget defence at the national assembly complex Abuja.
Ahmadu said, “The House Committee on Sports is assuring the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Football Federation and the National Sports Institute of total support in making sure that the funds are accessed from the federal government with ease,” Amadu said. “Doing this, on our part leads to sports development particularly at the grassroots.”
Noting the increment in the sports budget, Amudu commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for significantly increasing the sports budget from N29 billion to over N94 billion. This represents a 227% increment, a move that Amadu believes will revolutionize the sports sector in Nigeria.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has tripled the budget of sports from N29,082,369,979:00 in 2024 to N94,947,006,325:00 in 2025,” Amadu said. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is hereby commended for the giant strides in the budgetary allocations to the sports sector. It is our hope and belief that, the increment in budgetary allocation would mark a turning point in the development, administration and management of sports activities in Nigeria.”
The House of Representative member of gusau/tsafe Federal constituency, expressed optimism that the increased budget will address pressing issues in the sports sector.
“We envisage that the problems of decaying sports infrastructure across the country, especially the National stadiums, lack of funds for over forty federations, pack of sustainable development plans, lack of prerequisite manpower, training needed to make the nation excel in sports would be tackled and justified with the increment.”
Ahmadu further called on all stakeholders to be in their best gear, he said, “I hereby implore you to justify the confidence reposed on you by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians by deploying your wealth of experience In ensuring optimal utilization of the allocations in year 2025 budget, when approved and passed by National Assembly.
“Let me reiterate that this Committee is statutorily saddled with the responsibilities of oversight of Sports activities and sports administration amongst others.
“In furtherance of its statutory duties, we invited you to give an account of the 2024 Appropriation Act, as a prelude to the approval year 2025 budget proposals.
“The essence of today’s budget defence, is in sync with the provisions of Section 88 & 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nige (as amended)
“It is also in accord with the avowed commitment of the Committee to ensure that, agencies under its purview perform their constitutional mandates in spheres of sports promotion, administration to the benefit of the greatest majority of Nigerians.
“You are assured of due diligence and constructive engagement in a bid to promote sports development to an enviable pedestal, We are not only poised to ensure positive improvement in the sports sector but also put in place the mechanism to realize our goals.