The Federal Government’s allocation of N31bn for sports in 2024 has faced criticism from sports enthusiasts, according to We reports.
The breakdown includes N7,999,058 for overhead costs, N3,235,718 for personnel, and over N20bn for sports capital expenditure in the 2024 Appropriation Bill, presented by Tinubu under the theme ‘Budget of Renewed Hope.’ Figures from the Budget Office reveal that the sports ministry is set to be among the least funded in 2024.
This controversy arises following the government’s decision to split the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development into two separate entities — the Ministry of Sports Development and the Ministry of Youth Development.
Our correspondent learnt that 10 ministries will be receiving a total of N20.7tn collectively, which amounts to 86.3 per cent of the overall budget earmarked for 2024.
These ministries include finance, budget and planning, defence, education and health.
Others are police affairs, works and housing, interior, agriculture and Niger Delta.
Reacting to the Federal Government’s allocation for sports, former Gombe State FA chairman, Shuaib Gara-Gombe, said, “Sports should be getting more funding from the government and it shows the level of commitment this government has given to sports.
“Let’s wait and see how the sports ministry utilises these funds as well as attract the private sector to participate in the growth and development of sports in the country.”
Ace journalist, Afolabi Gambari, added that the allocation for sports showed the government took sports as recreation and not a sector that could boost the country’s economy.
“N31bn is not enough and too little to run sports in a year,” Gambari said.
“It shows that the government is not looking at sports as an industry despite all the campaigns all these years. When you look at sports, it’s an industry that can provide jobs for the youths and as well take them off the streets.”