$1tr economy drive critical to banishing poverty, says Hamzat

• ‘Nigerian children suffer poverty more than adults’
• Children beg Tinubu to use subsidy removal savings on education

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has said the one trillion-dollar economy drive of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is critical to banishing poverty from Nigeria.

This was as the Federal Government said Nigerian children suffer poverty more than adults and were likely to be deprived of all 10 of the multi-dimensional poverty indicators.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Children’s Parliament begged Tinubu to channel a substantial percentage of the savings from the removal of the petrol subsidy into improving and expanding access to quality education at all levels in the 2025 budget.

According to Hamzat, this is crucial because it has the potential, and likely the solution, to salvage those within the poverty bracket in the country.

The deputy governor stated this yesterday at a media parley organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement.

He maintained that the Lagos government “is committed to good governance”, revealing that so far, about 198 roads have been constructed in different parts of the state to make it more habitable for residents.

Hamzat said the government would not relent in ensuring that the residents continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Speaking on the importance of tax payment for infrastructural development, he said residents must know that they cannot live for themselves alone but must consider the vulnerable in the society.

Giving an account of the activities of his office, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Tajudeen Afolabi, said N700 million had been earmarked to support healthcare, education and housing issues among many other personal interventions for vulnerable in the state.

The aide said Lagos was committed to fostering synergy with the media to strengthen the THEMES+ agenda of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration for the benefit of citizens while doing everything humanly possible for a more inclusive administration and making the state better.

MINISTER of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, disclosed the suffering among children, yesterday, in Abuja, at the 2024 World Children’s Day celebration with the theme ‘Listen to the Future’.

The United Nations Observance Day is commemorated every November 20 to promote international togetherness, and awareness among children worldwide and improve children’s welfare.

At the event celebrated by the Federal Government, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other stakeholders, the updated Situation Analysis of Children in Nigeria (SitAn) was inaugurated.

Bagudu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Vincent Obi, said the 10 multi-dimensional poverty indicators include clean water, sanitation, adequate nutrition, health and education.

He added that the report stipulated that 26 per cent of primary school-age children, 25 per cent of junior secondary school-age children, and 24 per cent of senior secondary-age children were out of school.

IN commemoration of World Children’s Day, the children said the subsidy savings should be channelled to infrastructure development, capacity building and recruitment of qualified educators.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion, ‘Urgent Need for the Nigerian Government to Reinvest Savings from the Removal of Petroleum Subsidy into the Education, Health and Welfare of Children for Sustainable Development’ moved by the Leader of the Parliament, Ubkongyamba Hassan.

The session, which was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Ibrahim Zanna, was part of activities to mark the National Children Leadership Conference organised by the Children of Africa and Values Development Initiative in Abuja, yesterday.

The event featured a children’s panel discussion on ‘The Role of Young People in Promoting Sustainable Development’.

The Parliament said subsidy removal was a necessary step to reduce fiscal pressure on the nation’s economy which led to the government expending over 95 per cent of Nigerian revenue on debt servicing.

It also called on the Federal Government to allocate a defined proportion of 50 per cent of the subsidy savings for the rehabilitation and enhancement of the nation’s healthcare sector, with a special focus on maternal and child health services.

Country Director, PLAN International Nigeria, Charles Usie, stressed the need for children to be educated. He urged the children to build relationships that would help them achieve their objectives in life.