President Bola Tinubu has been advised to closely monitor the utilization of funds dedicated to various poverty alleviation programs in the nation. This plea was voiced by Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), during an interview with DAILY POST on Sunday in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.
Oyintiloye emphasized the importance of safeguarding the president’s commitment to alleviating poverty among the masses from potential interference by self-serving individuals. He recommended the implementation of comprehensive strategies to ensure that the diverse poverty intervention initiatives initiated by the president yield positive outcomes for the less privileged Nigerians.
“We must encourage and support the president to maintain a vigilant oversight of these intervention programs to prevent any misappropriation. Given that these funds are intended to alleviate poverty among the masses, it is crucial to have all necessary strategies in place to ensure that the allocated resources positively impact the lives of the less privileged Nigerians,” Oyintiloye stated.
The APC chieftain also praised President Tinubu for the allocation of N150 billion for poverty alleviation programs in the year 2024. He expressed confidence that this allocated amount would significantly improve the lives of many Nigerians. Oyintiloye asserted that the funds, designated under the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NPRGS), would play a pivotal role in stabilizing and enhancing the livelihoods of vulnerable populations.
He also acknowledged the positive development associated with the allocated funds under the four pillars of macro-economic stability, industrialization, structural policies/institutional reforms, and redistributive policies/programs of the government within the NPRGS.
Oyintiloye remarked, “The allocated fund will contribute to the fight against poverty, foster economic growth, and generate employment opportunities.”
It is worth noting that the NPRGS, endorsed by the Federal Executive Council in 2021 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is designed to address poverty, particularly in rural areas, over a 10-year period (2021-2031). The estimated implementation cost is $1.6 trillion, with an annual average of about $161 billion.