EJC Urges Nigeria to Prioritize Poverty Reduction

The Economic Justice Coalition (EJC) presented a submission to the Nigerian federal government, advocating for poverty reduction to be the primary measure of economic success. During a meeting in Abuja with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, EJC Executive Director Ez Onyekper emphasized that macroeconomic stability should not be the sole focus of economic policy, as it does not inherently improve human welfare.

The coalition highlighted the urgent need for Nigeria to address its rising public debt, which has increased significantly, reaching approximately 87.38 trillion Naira in June 2023, with projections of 159.28 trillion Naira by the end of 2025. They called for a "borrow better" framework to ensure that borrowing supports sustainable economic development and is accompanied by transparency and accountability measures.

The coalition argued that every borrowed Naira should contribute to development outcomes rather than merely financing budget shortfalls.