N532.5 Billion Won't Be Sufficient To Eradicate Poverty In Nigeria — Beta Edu
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu has lamented her ministry's 2024 budgetary allocation
The N532.5 billion allotted to Beta Edu's ministry in the 2024 budget, the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, has stated that this amount will not be sufficient to end poverty in the nation.
When Edu appeared before the Joint National Assembly Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation on Tuesday, December 12, to defend her 2024 budget, she stated as much.
The minister claims that in order to offset the effects of inflation, her ministry was granted an overhead ceiling of N532.5 billion, or a 28% increase over the 2023 budget.
“Conversely, the capital budget ceiling was reduced from N3.7bn in 2022 to N1.328316bn in 2023 and it represents a 71 per cent reduction. So, in 2022 and 2023, there was a 71 per cent reduction.
“However the pittance capital ceiling of N1.535b which is an increase from the current year's budget does not in any way match with the mandate of the ministry's headquarters to shrink Poverty in Nigeria.
“Simply put, there was an over 71 per cent reduction between 2022 and 2023 so the minimal increase between 2023 and 2024 does not in any way match with the mandate which we have been given and what is expected of us.
“At this point, I will plead humbly and sincerely with the chairman, co-chair, and members of this great Committee that as we look into Nigeria as a nation.
“The burden lies on us to tackle the issue of poverty with sincerity. One thing you can take from me and my team working under the guardians of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that he truly wants Nigerians to be out of poverty.
“Except the budget is appropriate for it, we would be completely unable to meet that mandate.
“It will be words that would not be marched with actions. I am happy that you represent constituencies and senatorial zones a lot is being expected of you from the government in your constituencies to meet their real sincere demands.
“That is the reason why this committee must go beyond board to ensure that the present budget which was given to the Ministry and agencies is carefully looked into, reconsidered, and something more reasonable and in keeping with the realities on the ground is done.
“The ministry has several special Projects which I will not like to mention and we intend to use these special Projects as agencies under us to meet the target,” she said.
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