Renewed hope Agenda: No one will be left behind- Finance Minister

The Nigerian government says the poor and vulnerable citizens will not be left behind in the renewed hope agenda of government.

The minister of Finance and Economy Mr. Wale Edun who disclosed this while unveiling the ministry’s road map for growth in the economy said the current administration will focus on eight priority areas including food security; economic growth; utilizing human resources by focusing on inclusivity, women and youths; focusing on rule of law and anti-corruption among others.

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Edun said there would be periodic performance evaluations for the different ministers for Nigerians to see their achievements.

“This is to give you elements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision and his strategy for the economy and his plan to give a better economy and a better life to Nigerians.

“President Tinubu has pointed out the 8 priority areas where he is going to take Nigeria and his key priorities are to improve the lives of Nigerians by providing food security by ending poverty. His plan for the economy is economic growth job creation, access to capital particularly consumer credit that makes growth affordable to the average Nigerian.

“He is concerned about utilizing our human resources by focusing on inclusivity, women youth, making all have the opportunity to come to the table and contribute to the growth of the economy and the society and likewise by focusing on the society, by focusing on the rule of law and anti-corruption. He intends to create, a safer, a clearer playing field for all.”

Mr Edun said that the President’s agenda was increasing revenues so that there is enough funding from the government to carry out its expenditure. “On the one hand is by increasing tax revenue not by increasing taxes but by bringing greater efficiency and to maximise the revenue.

“There will be an emphasis on efficiency in government expenditure and effective debt management so that borrowing has link to it, the effective debt management.

“Also, the president is going to provide a better life for all by encouraging investments that improve productivity, grows the economy and thereby creates jobs and reduces poverty,” he said.

Mr. Edun noted that the last time that Nigeria had low inflation, low exchange rate, affordable interest rate and considerable economic growth was ten years ago.

“We all know we are not where we should be. The economy is growing barely above the rate of population growth but it was not always so,” he said.

“What that points to is that we have a situation where if government doesn’t have the money, it needs to facilitate and allow private funding and other sources of funding such as foreign direct investments and domestic investments by Nigerians in all areas,” he said.