By Aaron Ossai
President Bola Tinubu has urged the House of Representatives to expedite consideration and passage of the Niger Delta Development Commission’s (NDDC) 2026 statutory budget, with youth empowerment, power supply, education, healthcare, security and agriculture identified as key spending priorities.
Tinubu made the request in a letter dated August 20, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, transmitting the proposed budget for legislative consideration.
The President said the budget proposal was prepared by the Minister of Niger Delta Development in accordance with Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution.
“In line with the provisions of Section 121 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Development has prepared the 2026 Statutory Budget Proposal of the NDDC, which is herewith forwarded for consideration and passage by the House of Representatives,” Tinubu stated.
According to him, the proposal was based on the commission’s projected revenue and expenditure and aligned with the Federal Government’s fiscal and development policies, including the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He added that the spending plan also took into consideration the 2024–2026 Economic Recovery Growth Plan and the assumptions underpinning the Federal Government’s 2026 Appropriation Act.
Tinubu said the proposed priorities were designed to tackle persistent development challenges in the Niger Delta while expanding economic opportunities and improving living conditions for residents.
“The House of Representatives is invited to note that the NDDC is prioritising improvement in Youth Empowerment, Energy and Power Supply, Education, Industrial and Enterprise Development, Health, Security and increased productivity in Agriculture in order to lift a significant number of our citizens out of poverty,” he said.
The priorities span infrastructure, human capital development and economic empowerment, reflecting the NDDC’s mandate to formulate and implement development programmes in the oil-producing communities of the Niger Delta.
The commission has over the years undertaken projects covering roads, education, healthcare, water supply, skills acquisition, agriculture and other areas of community development.
The emphasis on youth empowerment and enterprise development is particularly significant in a region facing persistent challenges of unemployment, skills gaps and limited access to sustainable livelihoods.
Similarly, increased attention to electricity, agriculture and other infrastructure is expected to support economic activities and improve access to essential services in communities across the region.
The President urged the House to give the proposal expeditious consideration.
“While I look forward to the timely passage of the 2026 Statutory Budget Proposal of the NDDC by the House of Representatives, please accept, Honourable Speaker, the assurances of my highest regards,” he said.
The proposal will undergo legislative scrutiny, including consideration by relevant House committees, before being presented for further action and passage.
