Minister: How FG’ll lift 50 million Nigerians from poverty

VOICE AIR MEDIA, News Update

THE Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has said that the Federal Government is working on a strategy to pull 50 million people out of poverty in the next 42 months.

Edu stressed that President Bola Tinubu is deliberate in different poverty alleviation programmes to help the vulnerable in the country.

She spoke on Thursday while appearing in an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

The minister added that the efforts will be between her ministry and other interested ministries, adding that the collective efforts will ensure economic growth in the country.

She said, “We are drawing out a strategy to be able to get 50 million persons out of poverty within 42 months. Now, that is not just going to be only the job of my ministry to do. There is going to be an inter-sectorial collaboration with other ministries, for instance, the Ministry of Trade and Industries. Of course, they have the SMEs and the president has provided some loans for persons doing small little businesses across the nation.

“Government is very intentional. President Bola Tinubu is someone who cares about the poor and the vulnerable in the society. He does all within his power to ensure that the pain is taken off from Nigerians.

“There are different strategies. We are working with international partners and the World Bank. What is at the back of our mind is that 50 million people would be pulled out of poverty in 42 months.”

The minister also noted that the Federal Government has resumed payment for N-Power beneficiaries of the programme.

She revealed the payment of arrears to beneficiaries which was started on Wednesday (yesterday) will continue until the last person is paid.

“Presently, a payment for N-Power is ongoing; we were in the office yesterday up until the early hours of this morning, just to ensure that young people get monies that they have been owed from the last government.

“So, N-Power beneficiaries across the nation, I am sure you can attest to the fact that you are seeing your money in your accounts and this process will continue until the last person who indeed has served is being paid.

“And of course, all of this is being restructured to ensure that we reduce unemployment and create jobs for Nigerians,” Edu said.