The House of Representatives Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa says deliberate action must be taken to fund the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to alleviate poverty in Nigeria.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Umar Bago, at an oversight visit on Monday, said the committee would engage the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on the poor funding of NEPAD.
Bago said that the 2021 budget allocation for NEPAD was too lean for the agency to carry out its mandate.
“I do know how you want to eradicate poverty when you are poor, you are very poor, your budget is so lean and I am surprised that you are using air conditioners in your office.
“Honestly speaking, something must be done if NEPAD must work; as a committee, we need to send a communiqué to the Appropriation Committee to justify more funding for you.
“Give us your challenges in writing because some of the things you need, we need to write the Minister of Finance; unless we are saying NEPAD is not necessary, this funding is not acceptable.
“So much funding goes to the SGF through Serivcewide Vote; we also need to write the SGF, the office needs to understand the essence of NEPAD. If there are other ways for the SGF to assist, he should; but there must be a deliberate attempt by the SGF to fund NEPAD,” he said.
Earlier, the National Co-ordinator, Mrs Gloria Akobundu, said if NEPAD was given the required political backing it needed, it would address the crisis in the country. “Our target is the rural area and if we are able to make it convenient, these youth will not be in the city protesting,” she said.
