In a bold and ambitious initiative, Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has announced the Federal Government’s strategy to pull 50 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 42 months. The minister revealed this plan during an interview with Channels TV on Thursday, emphasizing the collaborative effort between her ministry and other key sectors in the country to ensure widespread economic growth.
Dr. Edu highlighted the deliberate approach of President Bola Tinubu in implementing various poverty alleviation programs to support the vulnerable segments of the society. The minister stressed that eradicating poverty requires an inter-sectorial collaboration with ministries such as Trade and Industries, leveraging initiatives like providing loans for small businesses across the nation.
The government’s intention, as outlined by Dr. Edu, extends beyond national borders, involving partnerships with international entities and the World Bank. The overarching goal is to lift 50 million people out of poverty within the specified timeframe.
Responding to questions regarding the N-Power initiative, Dr. Edu acknowledged that the federal government has resumed payments for beneficiaries of the program. Notably, some beneficiaries had outstanding salaries from the previous administration under President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation assured that the payment of arrears to N-Power beneficiaries commenced on Wednesday and will persist until every individual who served is duly compensated. She explained the restructuring of the payment process, addressing delays that occurred when funds were held up with a consulting firm.
Highlighting the complexity of the situation, Dr. Edu emphasized that the Renewed Hope N-Power has not been relaunched yet, with the government currently addressing issues accumulated from previous years. The recovery of funds into the government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) marked a critical step in streamlining the disbursement process.
As the government works diligently to resolve outstanding matters, the minister urged patience from the N-Power beneficiaries, assuring them of ongoing efforts to reduce unemployment and create job opportunities for Nigerians.
