By Palma Ileye
In continued efforts to tackle the challenges of poverty and boost economic development, Federal Government through the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with Lift Above Poverty Organization, LAPO, has reiterated that the private sector was critical to driving the economic growth and overall development of Nigeria.
The Organization in a statement declared that the Minister of Budget and National Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu was quoted out of context by a section of the media at the just concluded 30th Annual LAPO Development Forum, adding that the Minister stressed the need for sustained partnership with the private sector to drive the development agenda in the face of dwindling Government revenue.
In the statement by the Head of Programme and Corporate Communications, Dr James-Wisdom Abhulimen, LAPO said the Minister emphasized the need for non-State actors to complement Government’s efforts in promoting national and economic development as government cannot bear the burden alone.
Represented by the Director of International Cooperation, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, Dr Bagudu stated: “Essentially, NGOs exist to cover the space not covered by the government by seeking propositions on issues such as health care, environment, economy, public policy, empowerment and support to vulnerable citizens. The government’s policy objectives are very critical for both State and non-State actors, like the NGOs.
“The role of NGOs is to work with the government through its national development plan. The chairman has already mentioned and talked about our national development plan for 2021–2025. In doing that, the actors must be very inclusive in that it has to be non-selective and non-discriminatory, and you must stick to the overall needs of various areas of society.
“Government faces enormous challenges especially now, the government is facing revenue deficit. The growth rate is very slow and the population growth is fast pacing and increasing. unemployment is surging amid high inflation. These are issues which non-governmental organisations must take on board in helping government to cover the space government could not cover,” he said.
He added that Government’s policy objectives were very critical for both State and non-State actors, like the NGOs.