Reps, Youth and Sports Minister Condemned Low Funds Proposed for Youth in 2021 Budget

The House of Representatives and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare have criticised the fund appropriated for the youth in the proposed 2021 budget.

Both reacted at a budget defence session organised by the House Committee on Youth Development in Abuja on Monday.

Mr Yemi Adaramodu, the Chairman of the committee, said more fund should have been allocated for youth empowerment and development, especially with the recent happenings in the country.

Adaramodu said, “There is one thing that is very noticeable – notably noticeable – and it is that even coming out of the recent happenings in the country, we believe that the government must consciously and courageously ensure that the budget for the ministry that is going to handle youth matters should be a first of its kind in Nigeria.

“When I look at what is submitted here (2021 budget), even the budget performance of this current year – 50, 30, 45 per cent – and then we want the youth to be taken care of; will this not amount to lips service? Is it not going to amount to the issues of ‘Soro Soke’?

“We found out that the Ministry of (Sports and) Youth (Development) that is supposed to be in charge of youths in Nigeria is oblivious of what is happening to the youths that are being taken care of in the NPower. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has a lot for the youth; so many programmes; but how are these programmes being run?”

In his comments, Dare, who noted that the proposal was made before the #EndSARS protests, said, “The 2021 budget emphasises investment in our citizens, particularly the youth, in order to achieve the aspirations of government and the move to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

“It is highly important to note the present capital budget proposal, though higher than last year’s, is yet grossly inadequate to finance the maintenance of five stasis and the mini sports centres that we have across the country, and the youth development centres.”