By Desire Emmanuel
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, February 4, said the Federal Government should not be blamed over 133 million Nigerians that are found to be “multidimensionally poor.”
He said the states and the various local government area in the country should be blamed for the situation of many poor Nigerians.
It will be recalled that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that approximately 133 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor, which accounts for about 63 per cent of the country’s population.
The data was based on the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) survey conducted by NBS in collaboration with other organisations.
The Statistician-General of the Federation, Mr. Adeyemi Adeniran, highlighted this issue, emphasising the need for urgent action to address poverty in Nigeria.
The MPI survey provides insights into the various deprivations faced by Nigerians, including lack of access to healthcare, education, and clean energy.
However, speaking on the issue on Wednesday on his verified X handle, Onanuga said the states and local government areas are constitutionally empowered to provide all the facilities that will take the people out of the crushing poverty bracket.
He said: “Who should be blamed for the 133 million Nigerians that are multidimensionally poor? The Federal Government? No. The states? Yes. The 774 local councils? Yes. They are constitutionally empowered to provide all the facilities that will take our people out of that crushing poverty bracket. Not the Federal Government.”
