Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said
that the country is on course to effectively tackle poverty and
unemployment through its micro-economic planning and Social Investment
Programmes.
Osinbajo said this on Thursday when a delegation of
senior officials from the World Bank, led by the World Bank Group
Executive Director for Italy, Mr Patrizio Pagano, visited him at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The group of 10 Executive Directors,
on a working visit to Nigeria represents 93 countries from across
Africa, Asia, Central America and Europe.
The Vice President
further said the Buhari administration was determined to tackle
corruption to bring economic prosperity for Nigeria.
“There
is a tendency to assume that if we get just a number of things right in
our micro-economic planning, for instance, to promote trade and so on,
we would be able to deal with the issues of poverty through a trickle
down policy.
“”But unfortunately, here, this is not necessarily
the case. We might get the micro issues right and still have the
problems, especially of poverty.
“In terms of systematic policy, you have to keep innovating, looking for what works, tweaking it here and there.
““Also,
if you don’t deal with issues around corruption, it becomes difficult.
If we allow resources to be pilfered and wasted, then the whole idea of
economic prosperity is difficult.
“”So we have programmes and
initiatives in place that promote accountability, like Treasury Single
Account (TSA), and other policies,” the Vice President added.
Osinbajo
said that the Buhari administration’s Social Investment Programmes were
targeted at ensuring inclusion and taking millions of Nigerians out of
poverty.
“So, the question for us is how to ensure
inclusion or inclusivity, how to get millions of our very poor people
into the economy, how to structure our budget in such a way that
recognises that.
“”That is why we set up the N500 billion Social Investment Programmes.
“”Though
we are not spending anything near that yet, it is an important
statement for us to address the question of inclusivity,’’ he stated..
On
Nigeria’s role in West Africa, the Vice President noted that, “Nigeria
is very involved in the region in the areas of security.
“”We promote regional cooperation and we also try to address issues of dumping, and the smuggling of rice and poultry products.”
Osinbajo
highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in the area of trade
adding that he met with the President of Benin recently in Togo, where
they discussed ways in which Nigeria and its neighbours could
effectively resolve the issue of smuggling.
The World Bank
Director, Mr Patrizio Pagano, commended the Federal Government for its
economic reforms, adding that the Bank would fully support the country
in achieving sustainable growth.(NAN)
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