Tinubu Government Holds States, Local Councils Responsible for Nigeria's Rising Poverty

The government led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu has attributed the increasing poverty levels in Nigeria to the failures of state and local governments. Special Adviser to the President on Information Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized that the constitution empowers state and local governments to provide essential services to alleviate poverty.

Former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, highlighted the distinction between financial poverty and multidimensional poverty, criticizing the lack of access to basic services like education and healthcare. He criticized the focus on developing projects in state capitals over rural areas, deepening hardships in remote communities.

Agba advocated for prioritizing primary healthcare centers over tertiary hospitals to address poverty effectively. The statements have sparked a national debate on the roles of different levels of government in poverty reduction and equitable development in Nigeria.