By Awayi Kuje
Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has urged the state government to focus more on youth and sporting activities in order to tackle restiveness, insecurity and other social vices in the state.
Alhaji Mohammed Isimbabi, the Chairman, House Committee on Youth and Sports made the call when the committee visited the ministry of Youths and Sport on its 2023 budget performance on Tuesday in Lafia.
Isimbabi, who represents Toto/ Gadabuke constituency said that prioritizing youth and sporting activities would also promote peaceful co-existence in the state.
The committee chairman urged the ministry to do what it could to return the state owned football club, Nasarawa United to the Nigeria Premier Football League next season.
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“Do all it will take to restore the lost glory of our solid miners”.
Isimbabi said that the exercise was to assess the ministry’s 2023 budget performance.
” We are here to perform one of the functions of the Assembly. The House appropriated funds and the essence of this exercise is to assess your ministry 2023 budget performance.
”We want to assure you of our partnership and support to enable you succeed in developing youth and sporting activities in the state,” he said.
He also urged the management of the ministry to be up and doing in their activities in order to take the ministry to the greater height.
The committee commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for prioritizijg youth and sports development and called for its sustenance.
Isimbabi disclosed that the committee will soon visit all supporting facilities across the State to see things for themselves.
Earlier, the Commissioner for the ministry, Alhaji Ja’afaru Ango revealed that N48 million was earmarked to resuscitate Sporting Academy Akwanga in order to promote sporting activities in the state.
The commissioner appreciated the committee for supporting its activities to succeed.
He also thanked Gov. Abdullahi Sule for prioritizing youth and sports development in the state.
The commissioner said most of the players of Nasarawa United FC are on loan, emphasizing that efforts are on to purchase new players.
In a related development, the House Committee on Youth and Sports also visited Nasarawa State Youth Empowerment Scheme (NAYES) where the General Manager, Mr Abdullahi Maina appreciated the committee for supporting its activities to succeed.
Marina said that personnel of the scheme have been receiving N10,000 as monthly stipend.
He, however, appealed for mobility to enable them discharge their duties effectively.
Responding, the chairman of the committee assured of the House’s commitment to support NAYES to succeed in order to continue to take the youth off the streets in the state.
He said that there was the need for full implementation of the law establishing NAYES in order to have full structure of the board and management team of the scheme on ground for effective service delivery.
The committee chairman said the committee would sit and look at the monthly package of the scheme, personnel and advise appropriately.