The Federal Government, on Wednesday, approved a new strategy to address the increasing rate of poverty in the country.
The State House correspondents were informed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity on Wednesday that the issue of poverty was debated at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
It said that the administration of President Buhari acknowledged that there was poverty in the country and has put measures in place to fight the scourge
He added that part of the measure to address the challenge was the approval of a National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy presented at the meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the country’s capital.
The Buhari’s spokesperson stated that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who is the head of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), would chair the steering committee to provide overall guidance for the implementation of the strategy.
The council noted that the promise of the Federal Government to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty and observed that June 12 would make it two years since the promise was made, Adesina said.
According to the Buhari spokesperson, the council concluded that it is a work in progress and the government is still standing by its promise and will pay its part until the tenure of the current administration expires.
Adesina disclosed that the council equally approved the implementation of the strategy and its incorporation into A Medium-Term National Development Plan 2021-2025 and Agenda 2050.
President Buhari, he said, has directed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to prepare a bill for submission to the National Assembly to enable sustainable implementation of the strategy.
The meeting presided by President Buhari was physically attended by the Vice President, as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; and the President’s Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.
Some of those who were physically present included the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, Malami, Timipre Sylva (Minister of State for Petroleum Resources), Geoffrey Onyeama (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Zainab Ahmed (Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning), and Lai Mohammed (Minister of Information and Culture).
