NEC Approves Support For 9m ‘Economically Active Individuals’ in 8,809 Wards Nationwide
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday urged state governors to put more money into rural electrification, agricultural mechanisation, poverty eradication and infrastructure.
This is coming as the National Economic Council (NEC) approved the establishment of ward level development programme through which at least 9 million Nigerians, which translates to 1,000 economically active individuals in each of the 8,809 political wards nationwide, would be supported.
The President had on Thursday while addressing the NEC, said that such investments would accelerate development at the grassroots and tackle poverty.
“I want to appeal to you, let us change the story of our people in the rural areas. The economy is working. We are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas. We know the situation in the rural areas, let us collaborate and do what will benefit the people,” he said.
According to him, collaboration between the states and federal government would drive economic development in rural areas across the country.
“We have to embrace mechanisation in agriculture, fight insecurity, and improve school enrolment through school feeding,” the President said.
The Syndicate, however, reports that the Tinubu administration had since assuming office jettisoned the Social Investment Programme run by his predecessor. The programme included school feeding to enhance enrolment, the N-Power for unemployed graduates, and other interventions.
Earlier, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, had made a presentation on the ‘Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme’, which was endorsed by the NEC.
It will be implemented in all the 8,809 administrative wards in the country.
Already, states like Katsina are implementing the ward development programme, channelling at least N10 million to each ward in the state to implement vital projects and interventions.
The NEC agreed that the new ward development programme would be implemented collaboratively between federal, state and local governments.
According to a presidency statement, the key target is to support 1,000 economically active individuals in smaller wards and up to 2,000 individuals in larger ones.
“A National Steering Committee comprising representatives from all six geopolitical zones will oversee implementation, with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning as secretariat.
“Council also directed the strengthening of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) across all 36 states of the federation and asked the Federal Ministry of Finance to release emergency funds to address impending flood effects.
“The council’s resolution came following a presentation by Mrs. Zubaida Umar, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency,” the presidency added in the statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications in the Office of Vice President Kashim Shettima.
