FG, States expend N50bn approved for poverty reduction – Gov Sule

The co-chairman of, the Steering Committee on National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, Abdullahi Sule has disclosed that over N50billion of the N400 billion approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for the committee to reduce poverty and enhance growth in the country, has been expended.

Speaking with State House correspondents late Thursday after the meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Governor Sule who spoke alongside the ministers of Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba and Agriculture Mohammed Abubakar said it’s a national issue and not state.

The meeting of the Steering Committee on National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, the was inaugurated by Mr President in June 2021.

He said, “In July 2022, we did the same steering committee chaired by the Vice President sat down and reviewed a presentation by the Technical Working Group, which is chaired by the Minister of state budget and Planning, as well as myself as the co-chair.

“So, we presented the approval of the 400 billion naira and the distribution of how it will be spent. So, today we just came to review the implementation, and the update of the spending so far and also approval for this year’s spending for the same committee.”

On how much has been disbursed in terms of implementation especially as the administration is winding down, the co-chairman said,” It’s not a governor thing but a national project where Mr President, based on the advice, recommendation of the Presidential Economic Advisory Committee and the office of the SGF make a recommendation for this particular committee to reform.

“So, it’s a national thing is not for any particular state. Now, based on that, and the recommendation that was made, and for what we received from the chairman of the Technical Working Group, over 50 billion has been spent so far.

“The performance so far is low and is not yet where we expect it to go but nearly every aspect of the 15 areas where the spending will be carried out. Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning as well, so every one of them has some kind of implementation, one after another.”