Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume has said his ministry will work to implement President Muhammadu Buhari’s policies and projects for lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.
The minister, who assured that appropriate model for funds’ mobilisation will be developed to facilitate poverty reduction, create jobs and strengthen public-private partnership (PPP) cooperation, said this is the cardinal thrust of President Buhari’s next level agenda.
He said a recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that 40.1 percent of Nigerian population has been classified as poor.
Akume made the disclosure Monday in Abuja during the presentation of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Expert Committee Report on Strategies towards fulfilling Mr. President’s mandate to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.
The minister said he believed the lives of millions of compatriots will change positively as a result of the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report being submitted.
“It is noteworthy that poverty is essentially related to lack or deprivation of factors which are necessary for an acceptable quality of life. A recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that 40.1 percent of total population of Nigeria has been classified as poor.
“This means that 4 out of 10 individuals in Nigeria have real per capital expenditure below N137.430 per day. This translates to over 82.9 million Nigerians who are considered poor by national standards,” he said, adding that COVID-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on world economy, including Nigeria which has worsened the already precarious unemployment situation.
“It is therefore, in recognition of this position and the ministry’s mandate to coordinate multi-agency and inter ministry functions as designated by Mr. President, actively collaborate with the private sector to create employment for a large number of Nigerian youths that this committee was set up.”
The report of the committee, he said, will assist the ministry harness multi-sectoral opportunities for youth empowerment, and poverty alleviation within the economic corridors across the 774 local government areas in the country as well as develop monitoring and evaluation (M&E) model, incorporating communication strategy and stakeholders engagement.
He assured that the committee will not rest on their oars in the implementation of this report, with the hope that with collective resolve, Mr. President’s declaration of poverty alleviation will be actualised in Nigeria.
