By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Youth Development has commenced the 2026 budget defence session for the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, signaling a pivotal moment in the legislative review of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Precise Post recalls that President Bola Tinubu presented the 2026 budget proposal to lawmakers in December 2025, setting the stage for detailed committee-level examinations of allocations across ministries and agencies in line with constitutional oversight duties.
Declaring the session open, Chairman of the House Committee on Youth Development, Hon. Martins Esin Etim, emphasized that the exercise goes beyond reviewing financial projections.
According to him, the committee’s task is to critically assess the Ministry’s strategic direction, programme effectiveness and operational capacity, stressing that youth development remains central to Nigeria’s socio-economic progress and national stability.
Etim noted that while parts of the 2026 proposal are rollovers from the previous fiscal year, lawmakers are determined to ensure that allocations address the urgent needs of Nigerian youths and strengthen the Ministry’s capacity to deliver measurable results.
He disclosed that prior defence sessions had already been conducted with departments and agencies under the Ministry, adding that the ongoing engagement aims to consolidate submissions, ensure coherence and promote accountability in implementation.
Presenting the Ministry’s position, Minister of Youth Development, Engr. Ayodele Olawande, commended the legislature for its continued support, describing executive-legislative collaboration as vital to advancing youth-focused initiatives nationwide.
Reviewing 2025 performance, the Minister outlined expenditures across personnel, overhead and capital components, noting that capital spending targeted infrastructure upgrades and programme expansion.
He cited progress in skills development, entrepreneurship support and digital inclusion initiatives under President Tinubu’s administration.
Among the key achievements highlighted were:
Expansion of the Nigerian Youth Academy under the one youth two initiatives.
Launch of the Nigerian Youth Gig Programme to equip young Nigerians for global digital employment
Implementation of the Nigerian Youth Startup Initiative, which provided startup grants of at least ₦1 million each to over 300 beneficiaries in partnership with private sector stakeholders.
The Minister revealed that the Ministry operates five operational departments, seven common service departments, two specialised headquarters units, six zonal offices and 72 National Youth Development Centres across the country.
Several centres, he said, are undergoing renovation and rehabilitation through public-private partnerships to enhance service delivery.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Ministry proposed that 15 percent of national and state budget allocations be dedicated specifically to youth development programmes, aligning with resolutions of the 7th National Council on Youth Development.
The Joint Committee commended the Ministry’s efforts and pledged sustained legislative backing, assuring Nigerians that it would rigorously exercise its oversight function to guarantee prudent use of public funds for the benefit of the nation’s youth.
