President Bola Tinubu has urged the House of Representatives to consider and pass the 2026 statutory budget proposal of the Niger Delta Development Commission, with youth empowerment, electricity, education, healthcare, security and agriculture listed among its key priorities.
President Tinubu made the request in a letter dated August 20, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, transmitting the proposed budget to the chamber for legislative consideration.
The President said the proposal was prepared by the Minister of Niger Delta Development in accordance with Section 121 of the Constitution.
He said the spending plan was based on the NDDC’s projected revenue and expenditure and aligned with the Federal Government’s fiscal and development policies, including the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to Tinubu, the proposal also takes into account the 2024–2026 Economic Recovery Growth Plan and key assumptions underpinning the Federal Government’s 2026 Appropriation Act.
He said the NDDC’s priorities were designed to address longstanding development challenges in the region while expanding economic opportunities 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,” Tinubu stated.
The identified areas cover infrastructure and human capital development, in line with the NDDC’s mandate to formulate and implement projects and programmes addressing the developmental needs of the Niger Delta.
The commission’s interventions have included road construction and rehabilitation, education, healthcare, water projects, skills acquisition, agriculture and other community development programmes.
The 2026 proposal’s emphasis on youth empowerment and enterprise development comes amid concerns over unemployment, skills development and access to sustainable livelihoods in the region.
President Tinubu urged the House to give the proposal prompt consideration, saying he looked forward to its timely passage.
The proposed budget will now undergo legislative scrutiny, including consideration by the relevant committees of the House, before further action is taken on its passage.