Clement Agba blames rising poverty on governors’ misplaced priorities

The Minister of State for Budget and National planning, Clement Agba says State Governors contribute more to the rise in poverty in the country because of misplaced priorities such as Building Bridges and airports that do not have direct impact on the well-being of the people.

These said stated by the Minister at the end of this week’s Federal Executive Council Meeting when it was asked what the federal
government is doing to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

It has been projected that the number of poor people in Nigeria is expected to hit 95.1 million this year.

The recent National multi-dimensional Poverty index report launched by the National Bureau of Statistics exceeds the world bank’s
projection. This latest statistics has brought heavy knocks on the federal government and many people are beginning to criticise governments policies plans and programs targeted at lifting Nigerians out of poverty.

The Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning believes state governments should carry the bulk of the blame.

According to him, the results clearly show that poverty is still at least 72 percent in the rural areas noting that Sokoto state is leading in poverty with 91 percent

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“On the federal government side, we are doing our best but we need to push, that rather than Governors continue to compete to take loans to build airports that are not necessary, where they have other airports so close to them, they should concentrate on building rural roads so that the farmer can at least get their products
to the market.”

The Federal Executive council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari also approved a memo for the research and development of
broadband technology that will result in cost-effective Satellite Solutions in rural Nigeria through a public-private partnership.

Speaking, Minister of Science and Technology, Olorunnimbe Mamora said what government stands to benefit in terms of Revenue within this constitution period is well over 1.5-1.34 billion in naira after which the whole project will revert too.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu said a memo on national language policy has been approved which means Nigeria now has a national language.

The council also received a report on the 2.25% economic growth in the third quarter of 2022, this is a decline from 4.03 recorded in
the third quarter of 2021.