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The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has outlined some of the specifics that will be done to remove 50 million people from poverty in Nigeria, as directed by President Bola Tinubu within the next 42 months while the push to lift 133m multi dimensionally poor Nigerians out of poverty by 2030 will be on course.
The President had on Wednesday, November 1st, announced that Ministers would sign a Performance Agreement with him at the end of the three-day cabinet retreat for ministers, presidential aides, permanent secretaries, and top government functionaries.
Fielding questions from State House Correspondents on the day two of the three-day retreat at the State House Conference Center, Abuja, Edu stated that the ongoing payment of N25,000 to poor households in Nigeria via the conditional cash transfer programme for the next three months, amounting to N75,000, was part of it.
The minister explained that although the Programme is for an immediate cushioning of the economic shock that these households are experiencing as a result of fuel subsidy removal, it will contribute to directly affecting the lives of 61 million individuals which is about 15 million households from poverty.
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Edu added that the process is being carried out rigorously to ensure that the right people get the money. And it is completely traceable. She said the government is identifying the beneficiaries, verifying their identities through their NINs and BVNs, and ensuring that they are paid. Many have started receiving funds, and their details are traceable. The Ministry will partner with NIMC to ensure the very poor across the nation get their NIN so they can access funds.
The Minister emphasised that the government does not want to rush into paying people and then realise that they don’t even exist. We pay only those with NIN and BVN, whom we have had in-person/ household verification.
“NASSCO went through the process of verification, and payments have started. Different states across the country can attest to this.
“We’re also providing zero-interest loans for petty traders, market women, poor farmers, amongst other people.
“We’re also supporting poor farmers. We’re bringing on board the End Hunger Project, we’re equally bringing on board the Code Nigeria Project and several other special vehicle projects to help us achieve results. Each of these projects has the targeted millions of persons whom we want to reach through our social safety net projects. this is what will give us the 50 million individuals in 42 months.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of collaboration between her ministry and other ministries to address the multi-dimensional issue of poverty in Nigeria. “Some people are poor because they do not have access to quality healthcare services. Some people are poor because they do not have jobs or they are out of school. We have the statistics, and our programs are targeted at addressing the various categories.
“So it’s multi-dimensional. And we are collaborating as a ministry with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry Agriculture, etc, to achieve results
Speaking on the impact of the retreat, Edu said: “It has been very informative, especially as it concerns administration, governance, leadership, and actually managing the affairs of government at this level. For many persons, this has been very useful in setting the agenda for government.
“The President spoke very expressly on Wednesday, and he said, we’re all going to sign the bond to deliver on our targets. He is bringing the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is to reach out to millions of Nigerians create jobs, give food security, eradicate poverty, of course, ensure that we have good governance, fight corruption and ensure the rule of law comes into play, amongst other things.
“What’s most important is to see that all his foot soldiers set to work. For us in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and poverty alleviation, we are actually given a task, and that task is to go all out and ensure that we meet the deliverables and mandates of the government.
“We’ve spelt out our deliverables with KPIs clearly. And we’re signing on to the bond. The entire team of the ministry and its agencies/parastatals, which it supervises, would be on the road to ensure that we deliver and achieve success. It’s not going to be an easy task. Mr. President is an A-class president who has a very high charge on what he wants to achieve for Nigerians. Hopes are high. And he will not fail. We will not fail. Nigeria as a country will not fail.
“We’re already on the right trajectory to improving things. We ask for a little patience from Nigerians, cooperation, and an understanding of government and government policies. We would be sincere, we would be accountable, we would be out there to push and see that the Renewed Hope Agenda becomes a reality.”
