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Our Budget Too Poor To Fight Poverty – Minister

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1 year ago

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ABUJA —The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Beta Edu, has said that the budget for their ministry to fight poverty is too poor.

Beta said the amount allocated to her ministry in the 2024 budget was not capable of fighting poverty in the country.

The Minister stated this when she led officials of her ministry and parastalas under it, to defend her 2024 budget before the Joint National Assembly committee of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, chaired by Senator Idiat Adebule.

She said her ministry was given an overhead ceiling of N532.5bn which represents a 28 per cent increase over the 2023 budget to cushion the effects of inflation.

It is pertinent to note that the 28 per cent increase in the overhead ceiling is not comensurate to the 27.33 per cent inflationary rate in the economy today.

Conversely, the capital budget ceiling was reduced from N3.7bn in 2022 to N1.328316bn in 2023 and it represents 71 per cent reduction.

So, in the 2022 and 2023 there was a 71% reduction.

“However, from the pittance capital ceiling of N1.535b which is an increase from the current year’s budget does not in any way match with the mandate of the ministry’s headquarters in order to shrink poverty in Nigeria.

“Simply put, there was an over 71% reduction between 2022 and 2023 so the minimal increase between 2023 and 2024 does not in any way match with the mandate which we have been given and what is expected of us.

“At this point I will plead humbly and sincerely with the chairman, co-chair and members of this great Committee that as we look into Nigeria as a nation.

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“The burden lies on us to actually tackle the issue of poverty with sincerity. One thing you can take from myself and my team working under the guardian’s of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that he truly wants Nigerians to be out of poverty.Except the budget is appropriate for it, we would be completely unable to meet that mandate,” she said.

Speaking further, Beta said it will be words that would not be marched with actions.
“I am happy that you represent constituencies and senatorial zones a lot is being expected of you from the Government in your constituencies to meet their real sincere demands.

“That is the reason why this committee must go beyond board to ensure that the present budget which was given to the Ministry and agencies is carefully looked into, reconsidered and something more reasonable and in keeping with the realities on ground is done.

“The ministry has several special Projects which I will not like to mention and we intend to use these special Projects as agencies under us to meet the target.

“Something very serious was omitted. If you followed the news closely, the President who is the chairman of the Federal Executive Council recently approved the creation of Humanitarian and Poverty Eradication Trust Fund.

“This Trust Is expected to have contribution from the Federal Government 30% counterpart funding which is supposed to come from donor agencies as well as development partners.

“We also have 30% coming from the private sector and then, 10% from other very innovative funds of resource mobilization which we have already started engagement

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“Similarly , 10% is expected from other very innovative dunds of resource mobilization for which we have already started engagements in the over 111 days in office,” she added.

Beta said further: “We have been engaging massively for these funds to come into Nigeria to support the implementation of programmes which we will be implementing with you at the front burner by reaching out to your constituents

“However, Nigeria needs to put its own part of the bargain on the table. This would be not just an attraction to those who are supposed are bringing in the other percent but it will serve as a lighter to reach the poor and indeed eradicate poverty from our country.

“We plead with this great Committee that as you make your submission to the appropriation committee and of course furthermore to the final level where the gavel will go down on the 2024

“Appropriation, we seek that you help us ensure the inclusion of these budget line as well as appropriation for this budget line. I would want to plead that we would have to as an executive,” she added.

The Chairman of the Committee, Idiat Adebule, asked whether the Minister presented the budget for the Trust Fund at the budget planning stage.

Beta said it was presented to the Ministry of Budget but that it was not reflected in what her ministry got back.

“This was clearly stated as an ommission and that is why we are asked to bring in as a memo to the committee to see how they can consider it.

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The committee members asked whether she has the Memo, and Beta responded in the affirmative.

The Minister was also asked whether she had discussed it with the minister for budget she answered in the afirmative.

Edu said she was with the Budget Minister and that she engaged him and also the budget office.

She said, “Of course we didn’t get to see the copy which was sent to the committee so from the findings we got to know that the copy that got to you did not have that reflected

“Because we are interested in the money that is coming from the donor agency, it is on the basis of this that we are taking that letter and we will make presentation to the appropriation Committee to see how it goes.

“We would want to say that you can hold us accountable for full implementation of whatever is appropriated to our ministry,” Beta added.

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Akwa-Ibom: Eno empowers 500 petty traders with N50m grant

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April 6, 2025

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Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, on Saturday, provided N50 million grant for 500 petty traders in Eket in the effort to assist them make a difference in their businesses.

Eno, at inaugurated a 5000-capacity Conference Hall in Eket Local Government Area of the state, explained that the beneficiaries were petty traders under the Eket ARISE Empowerment Initiative.

The governor, who was represented by Mr Frank Archibong, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, further explained that each of the 500 petty traders would receive the sum of N100,000.
According to him, the money will make a lot of difference for the petty traders in the area.

“This is Arise Agenda at work in the local government; this government is desirous of seeing more of this project in the landscape of every local government areas in Akwa Ibom.

‘’The project reflects collective vision for progress and determination to complement the transformative ARISE AGENDA, championed by the administration,’’ he said.

Eno urged the council to ensure that monitoring mechanism was put in place to monitor how successful the beneficiaries were able put the grant to use.

He, however, commended the council for achieving the conference hall project, describing it as landmark since it would serve as a place for meetings.

Also speaking, Mr Akaniyene Tommey, the Eket Local Government Chairman, said that the event was not merely infrastructure and economic empowerment celebration but a tangible evidence of unwavering commitment to people’s growth and prosperity.

Tommey said that the ARISE AGENDA of Gov. Eno led-administration was a well-crafted roadmap designed to uplift the socio-economic standards of Akwa Ibom.

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He said the facility was designed to serve as a premier hub for major events, conferences, and social gatherings.

“It will be a key driver of our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and will also create numerous employment opportunities in the area,” Tommey said.

The Chairman explained that the N50 million grant to 500 entrepreneurs was a clear demonstration of the resolve to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which are the backbone of the economy.

He said the proposed Ultramodern Eket legislative complex would mark another stride in infrastructural development journey when completed.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Deborah Willie, commended the Chairman for finding her worthy to benefit from the empowerment grants.

She promised to use the money judiciously in order to grow her petty trading business in the area.

The highlight of the event was the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ultramodern Eket legislative complex. (NAN)

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NNN Death Toll hit 110 as ex CBN Governor, Mai Borno’s son dies waiting for NGSF’s payment

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April 6, 2025

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The Death Toll of New Nigerian Newspaper Retirees waiting for payment of their benefits from Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has reached 110 on Sunday with the death of Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo Yola, who was the first son of late Alhaji Mai Borno ex Central Bank Governor of Nigeria.

A statement on NSGF Beneficiaries Whatsapp platform by his bossom friend Magaji lsa Hunkuyi said he died in the early hours of today Sunday 6th April, 2025 at Federal Medical Centre Yola, after a brief illness.
“Inna lillahi wainna alaihun rajihun Aliyu Modibbo Yola died at early hours of today Sunday at Federal Medical Centre Yola. May the Almighty Allah forgive his sins and grant him Jannatul Firdausi Amin” Hunkuyi prayed.

“He was in the NNN desk and was later transferred to Yola, Adamawa state his home town as state Editor NNN after the death of his Father Alhaji Aliyu Mai Borno a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN who’s his photo is in N1000 note.
The last time we spoken on telephone, about four days ago, he prayed that “may Allah help us to collect our benefits from Northern Governors with our hands” He added.

Recounting his relationship with late Aliyu Modibbo, in the early 1980s when he was working at the Newsroom of the NNN in Kaduna, while he Magaji Isa Hunkuyi was reporting for National Concord and later transferred to Yola in 1992 as chief correspondent of the National Concord where they met and maintained a more close relationship the relationship continued even after l was posted to Taraba State as a principal reporter by the New Nigerian Newspaper.

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He said he and late Aliyu had spoken for the last time few days ago before his phone was switched off.
According to him, he tried Aliyu’s line luckily the line was on but a strange voice answered the call.
“Where is the owner of the phone? but the person who answered the call calmly said the owner of the is my father and he died at about 4am today Sunday.
May the Almighty Allah forgive his sins and grant him Jannatul Firdausi Amin.” Hunkuyi said

Last week Saturday, the death of Ado Umar at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital Tudun Wada Kaduna brought the total number of beneficiaries awaiting payment from Northern Governors to 109.

Reports say that the number of beneficiaries in dear need of medical attention is 35.

Northern States Governors Forum under Governor Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State raked in 7 billion naira after selling New Nigerian Newspaper properties in the name of paying NNN beneficiaries but until now no penny has been paid out of the 2.5 Billion naira owed the retirees.

Meanwhile recent interactions of New Nigerian Newspaper Elders Forum with the Northern States’ Governors Secretariat suggests that efforts may have been underway to pay the retirees however no specific time frame was stipulated

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Northern CAN Decries Bokkos killings, Commiserates With Plateau Govt, Residents

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2 hours ago

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April 6, 2025

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By Israel Bulus, Kaduna

The Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern CAN) has strongly condemned the brutal killings of innocent residents in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chairman of Northern CAN, Rev. Dr. Joseph Hayab, described the attack that claimed at least 52 lives as barbaric, tragic, and utterly unacceptable.

He also extended heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, and the people of the state over what he termed “yet another senseless bloodshed.”

Hayab expressed deep concern over the recurring violence plaguing communities across Northern Nigeria, noting that the persistent culture of bloodshed continues to claim innocent lives.

“We totally condemn this strange and evil culture of taking human lives. Hiding under religion, ethnicity, or any guise to unleash terror on communities is unacceptable. Our societal value for human life has dangerously eroded, and this must not be allowed to continue,” the statement read.

” We’re heartbroken by the latest carnage, our prayers are with the victims’ families and the affected communities in Bokkos.

“This bloodletting must stop. We urge security agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime and ensure they face the full weight of the law. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. The pattern of mass killings and mass burials repeated in different communities year after year must be broken through firm and proactive measures,” the statement continued.

The Christian body also called on religious, traditional, and community leaders to preach peace, unity, and tolerance among their people.

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“These wanton killings must not become the new normal. Nigeria must not degenerate into a nation where human lives are wasted without consequences. We must all rise and say, ‘Enough is enough,’” it stated.

While commending the Plateau State Government for its swift response and the reported arrests, the association urged the government to remain steadfast in its commitment to peace, justice, and security.

Northern CAN also appealed to citizens to remain calm, law-abiding, and cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities.

“May the souls of the departed rest in peace. We pray that God comforts the bereaved families and grants healing to the wounded and affected communities,” the statement concluded.

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