The Honourable Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba has commended the Federal of Nigeria on the use of Social Protection Policy for poverty alleviation, economic growth and sustainable development.
The Minister made this commendation in Abuja today, during a breakfast Dialogue on National Social Protection Plan and Programmes in Nigeria organized by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning in collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners. The dialogue which was aimed at bringing all relevant stakeholders to a roundtable discussion on reducing poverty and inequality in the Country.
Speaking at the occasion, Prince Agba stated that one of the focuses of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was to alleviate poverty by all means, coupled with his determination to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 10 years.
He stated that, “This breakfast dialogue on Social protection is not only timely but relevant to the priorities of the Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari”.
The Minister further explained that the President in his strive to accelerate response to protection arising from emergencies, created the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, to anchor some critical aspects of social protection.
With the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, implementing National Social Investment Programme including N-Power, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Home Grown School Feeding; other sectors, such as, Ministry of Labour, were also driving the Social Security which was also a component of Social Protection that fell within their mandates. With the Federal Ministry of Health anchoring National Health Insurance Scheme, other MDAs also implemented Social Protection programmes which were relevant to their various mandates.
“With this laudable initiative, the Government of Nigeria is on the right trajectory to use Social Protection for poverty alleviation, economic growth and sustainable development.” He said.
Prince Agba added that the Ministry was ready to work collaboratively with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and other relevant sectors including UN Agencies and other development partners to develop a robust draft Bill on Social Protection for passage by the National Assembly (NASS).
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