The blame for the multidimensional poverty reportedly afflicting 133 million Nigerians has been laid at the doorsteps of states and local governments by the presidency.
The blame shifting started with Former Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clement Agba while delivering a lecture.
Agba explained that multidimensional poverty differs from income or financial poverty, and according to him, about 69.9 million Nigerians are financially poor and live below the two-dollar-a-day threshold, while multidimensional poverty affects about 133 million people due to lack of access to basic amenities such as education, healthcare, potable water and sanitation.
Agba stressed that responsibility for providing these services rests with sub-national governments under Nigeria’s federal structure.
He also rejected claims that successive presidents were directly responsible for the rising number of poor Nigerians, insisting that the issue had been misrepresented.
And went to criticise state governments for concentrating resources in state capitals at the expense of rural communities, arguing that neglect of primary healthcare centres and basic education worsens poverty at the grassroots.
The former minister’s postulation gained traction with the presidency as the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, echoed Agba’s sentiment.
Onanuga shared the video of the moment Agba made the remarks on his social media handles with the caption: “Who should be blamed for the 133 million Nigerians who are multidimensionally poor? The Federal Government? No. The states? Yes. The 774 local councils? Yes.”
