Reps Sports Committee Reviews 2025 Performance, Backs N203bn 2026 Budget

The House of Representatives Committee on Sports on Wednesday held a budget defence session with agencies under its supervision, including the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the National Institute of Sports (NIS).

The session, chaired by Hon. Kabiru Amadu, reviewed the agencies’ 2025 budget performance and examined their proposed allocations for the 2026 fiscal year.

Lawmakers commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu for proposing a 92 per cent increase in the 2026 sports budget, which rises to N203 billion from N105 billion in 2025. The Committee described the increase as a major step toward revitalising Nigeria’s sports sector.

During the session:

• The NSC was represented by Chairman Malam Shehu Dikko.
• The NFF delegation was led by President Ibrahim Gusau.
• The NIS presentation was delivered by Director General Philip Shuaibu.

Each agency presented detailed accounts of its 2025 expenditure and outlined strategic priorities for 2026.

Key Priorities for 2026

The proposed budget focuses on:

• Upgrading sports facilities nationwide
• Expanding youth development programmes
• Promoting grassroots sports initiatives
• Enhancing training programmes for coaches and athletes
• Building a sustainable sports economy

Persistent Challenges Identified

The Committee highlighted long-standing issues requiring urgent attention, including:

• Deteriorating sports infrastructure, particularly national stadia
• Recurring disputes over unpaid bonuses and allowances
• Inadequate funding for over 40 sports federations
• Lack of sustainable development frameworks
• Shortages of trained technical personnel

Lawmakers also pointed to what they described as a turning point for Nigerian sports in 2025, citing a record haul of 373 international medals—the highest in the nation’s history—alongside the repositioning of the NIS and restoration of full compliance with international anti-doping standards.

The six-hour session featured extensive engagement between lawmakers and agency heads on accountability measures, performance benchmarks, and implementation strategies for 2026.