Humanitarian Affairs Ministry Proposes N260bn Budget to Create 2 Million Jobs
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has presented a proposal to the National Assembly seeking N260 billion in the 2025 fiscal year to generate 2 million jobs.
The Ministry’s goal is to empower individuals through entrepreneurship and skill development.
Minister Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, speaking to the National Assembly’s joint committee on poverty reduction and social investment, highlighted the importance of this initiative.
He emphasized that the ministry’s mission includes creating 2 million jobs by 2025, with various efforts already underway, such as providing starter packs to over 110,000 beneficiaries, enabling them to start self-reliant ventures.
To ensure these programs’ success, the ministry requires N55 billion for a two-week intensive training program, which includes payment for trainers, logistics, and distribution of starter packs valued at N45,000 per beneficiary.
Monitoring and evaluation will also cost an additional N5,000 per beneficiary to ensure transparency and sustainability.
The ministry also seeks N50 billion to train 50,000 unemployed graduates and non-graduates under its Skill2Wealth Initiative. This program aims to create small businesses and provide market linkages and training in all 36 states and the FCT.
Additionally, a N10 billion humanitarian response fund is requested to assist communities affected by climate change, conflicts, and disasters, such as flooding, fires, and insurgencies.
Another N15 billion is needed to address the ongoing challenges faced by disaster-affected households from 2024.
To resolve these issues, the Ministry is also asking for an N130 billion intervention fund for 2025 to tackle humanitarian and poverty reduction challenges nationwide.
In response to questions about the delayed implementation of the 5,000 Vulnerable Nigerians grant, Minister Yilwatda assured that efforts would be made to secure President’s approval for the disbursement of N3.7 billion from the 2024 budget.
The Ministry’s 2025 overhead budget has been increased by 43.31% to N978.39 billion, accounting for inflation.
However, the capital budget ceiling of N4.6 trillion is seen as insufficient to address the growing humanitarian issues in the country.
The Minister, accompanied by the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Mr. Gbadamosi Lawan, called for an amendment of the NSIPA Act to enhance its operational efficiency, particularly regarding recurrent expenditure.
The National Assembly’s co-chairmen, Senator Idiat Adebule and Hon. Abdulkadir Jobe, assured the Minister that adequate funding for the Ministry’s intervention programs would be considered in the 2025 fiscal year to address poverty and humanitarian crises.
Stay updated on the Ministry’s initiatives for job creation and humanitarian relief, and share this article to raise awareness about Nigeria’s poverty reduction efforts.
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