FG will pull 50 million Nigerians out of poverty in 42 months – Minister

The Federal Government is developing a plan to lift 50 million people out of poverty within the next 42 months, according to Dr. Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Edu emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s purposeful efforts to assist the nation’s most vulnerable citizens through various programs aimed at reducing poverty.

She talked about it during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Thursday.

The minister went on to say that her government and other interested ministries will collaborate on the project, and that this would guarantee the nation’s economic expansion.

She said,  “We are drawing out a strategy to be able to get 50 million persons out of poverty within 42 months. Now, that is not just going to be only the job of my ministry to do. There is going to be an inter-sectorial collaboration with other ministries, for instance, the Ministry of Trade and Industries. Of course, they have the SMEs and the president has provided some loans for persons doing small little businesses across the nation.

“Government is very intentional. President Bola Tinubu is someone who cares about the poor and the vulnerable in the society. He does all within his power to ensure that the pain is taken off from Nigerians.

“There are different strategies. We are working with international partners and the World Bank. What is at the back of our mind is that 50 million people would be pulled out of poverty in 42 months.”

The minister also announced that N-Power program recipients are now receiving payments from the Federal Government again.

She disclosed that the arrears payments to beneficiaries, which commenced on Wednesday (yesterday), will persist till the final recipient receives their payment.

 “Presently, a payment for N-Power is ongoing; we were in the office yesterday up until the early hours of this morning, just to ensure that young people get monies that they have been owed from the last government.

“So, N-Power beneficiaries across the nation, I am sure you can attest to the fact that you are seeing your money in your accounts and this process will continue until the last person who indeed has served is being paid.

“And of course, all of this is being restructured to ensure that we reduce unemployment and create jobs for Nigerians,” Edu said