The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has dismissed reports claiming that N1 billion was allocated in the 2026 federal budget solely for the purchase of musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency, describing the reports as a misrepresentation of the budget provision.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Deputy Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the office explained that the intervention is a Youth Re-orientation and Social Support Programme to be delivered through faith-based organisations across Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State.
According to the statement, the actual allocation for the programme stands at N780 million after VAT and other statutory tax deductions, contrary to reports suggesting a N1 billion provision for musical instruments.
The office said the first phase of the initiative will cover 130 churches across the constituency’s 13 federal electoral wards, with each church expected to receive support valued at approximately N5 million to N6 million.
It explained that the programme is intended to strengthen existing church-based youth engagement platforms by providing evangelical instruments and public address systems to enhance campaigns against social vices, including drug abuse, sexual offences and violent crimes, while promoting discipline, peace, moral values and character development among young people.
The statement stressed that nation-building extends beyond physical infrastructure, arguing that the government must also invest in citizens’ moral and value systems through trusted community institutions.
It noted that traditional institutions have long received government support through the provision of town halls and community centres to preserve cultural values, adding that faith-based organisations should likewise be empowered to contribute to the formation of values and youth development.
The Deputy Speaker’s office further stated that similar faith-based youth development initiatives exist in other parts of the country, although such an approach has not been widely adopted in the South-East.
Nigerian youth need a functioning Nigeria full of industries and factories where they can work and feed their families.
For Nigeria to develop, we must chase people like Kalu and Bola Ahmed Tinubu away from Nigerian democracy. Thieves can’t grow the Nigerian economy.
*Deputy Speaker’s Office Clarifies N1bn Budget Report, Says Programme Targets Youth Reorientation Through Churches in Bende* Abia State of Nigeria
Published 15 minutes ago on July 22, 2026By News Leverage Editor*
The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has dismissed reports claiming that N1 billion was allocated in the 2026 federal budget solely for the purchase of musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency, describing the reports as a misrepresentation of the budget provision.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Deputy Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the office explained that the intervention is a Youth Re-orientation and Social Support Programme to be delivered through faith-based organisations across Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State.
According to the statement, the actual allocation for the programme stands at N780 million after VAT and other statutory tax deductions, contrary to reports suggesting a N1 billion provision for musical instruments.
The office said the first phase of the initiative will cover 130 churches across the constituency’s 13 federal electoral wards, with each church expected to receive support valued at approximately N5 million to N6 million.
It explained that the programme is intended to strengthen existing church-based youth engagement platforms by providing evangelical instruments and public address systems to enhance campaigns against social vices, including drug abuse, sexual offences and violent crimes, while promoting discipline, peace, moral values and character development among young people.
The statement stressed that nation-building extends beyond physical infrastructure, arguing that the government must also invest in citizens’ moral and value systems through trusted community institutions.
It noted that traditional institutions have long received government support through the provision of town halls and community centres to preserve cultural values, adding that faith-based organisations should likewise be empowered to contribute to the formation of values and youth development.
The Deputy Speaker’s office further stated that similar faith-based youth development initiatives exist in other parts of the country, although such an approach has not been widely adopted in the South-East.
Nigerian youth need a functioning Nigeria full of industries and factories where they can work and feed their families.
For Nigeria to develop, we must chase people like Kalu and Bola Ahmed Tinubu away from Nigerian democracy. Thieves can’t grow the Nigerian economy.
