VICE President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has expressed concern over extreme poverty in parts of the country, stating that records show that 110 million Nigerians are poor, representing two thirds of the population.
This is even as he said some of the past polices and planning including budgeting of government did not reflect the needs and the conditions of the majority of the people.
He stated this yesterday when he met with members of the Alumni Association of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) at the State House, Abuja.
According to him, “the important thing is how policies could address the need of the people. This is the main challenge”, he noted.
He said past planning, policy formulation and budgets were not accountable to the people. He said “policies don’t seem to have solutions that truly reflect the understanding of the question of poverty.”
Osinbajo regretted that “when you look at the economic and social policies, and you look at the level of illiteracy in parts of the country, some are extremely bad and some with cases of about 80 per cent or 90 per cent of children out of school, and other cases of unimaginable decayed infrastructure.” The Vice President noted that one of the challenges of policy formulation is how to speak to the people and address their plight, adding that the people are concerned about “how do I get a meal, how do I get health care and how to send children to school.”
He, however, added sadly, the budget does not often address the needs of the people.
The Vice President challenged members of the association to discuss how policy formulation ought to take root in the conditions of the people.
“I want the institute to think about this”, he said.
Osinbajo welcomed the proposed policy roundtable by members of the association, noting that what was lacking in government is a time to think, reflect and consider policy while still working.
The policy roundtable is intended to provide an interface between policy-makers and government on how to address the needs and improve the living conditions of the citizens through effective formulation.
Earlier, leader of the association, Major-General Lawrence Onoja (retd), expressed appreciation for President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to fight corruption and reposition the economy. He pledged the support of the association for the actualization of what he called the Three-Point Agenda – Security, corruption and economy of the Buhari administration.
Onoja urged the government not to only make a forensic audit of the agencies, but should jail all looters.
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