The federal government and ActionAid Nigeria have reiterated their commitment to ending poverty by 2030 through a coordinated, accountable, and inclusive approach that empowers citizens and rewards productivity.

They gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja at the ongoing high-level national dialogue on Rethinking Poverty Reduction Strategies in Nigeria.

The dialogue, organised by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), has “Prospecting for an Improved Living for Our Communities” as its theme.

The dialogue seeks to address the alarming rise in multidimensional poverty affecting 61 per cent of Nigerians and to promote community-driven strategies for sustainable poverty eradication.

ActionAid country director, Andrew Mamedu, said poverty eradication could only be achieved through shared responsibility, transparency, and a renewed focus on rewarding hard work across all sectors.

He called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s poverty reduction strategies to ensure that economic growth translates into tangible benefits for citizens.

According to him, despite the exponential growth of Nigeria’s budget from about N300 billion in 1999 to N54.5 trillion in 2024, poverty levels have not reduced proportionately.

“This tells us that we must do things differently.

“At ActionAid, we believe poverty can be eradicated, but only when government and citizens take shared responsibility and ensure accountability from the federal to the local levels”.

Mr Mamedu expressed concern about persistent poverty despite increased financial allocations to states and local governments.

He urged the government to draw lessons from countries like China and India, which lifted millions out of poverty through investments in infrastructure, education, health, and social protection, while ensuring local participation.

“It is not enough to increase spending; we must ensure resources are used efficiently. Reports show we lose about 18 billion dollars annually to illicit financial flows.

“If we can stop such leakages, more funds will remain in our economy to drive development,” he said.

Mr Mamedu commended the government’s pledge to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years but stressed that the goal could only be achieved through consistency, accountability, and collaboration among stakeholders.

“We need to move about 10 million Nigerians out of poverty every year. To achieve that, everyone, government, civil society, and the private sector, must work together,” he added.

He also urged Nigerians to embrace discipline, punctuality, and commitment as symbols of accountability and efficiency.

“Governance is not only about the president or ministers; it involves all of us. If we begin to do small things right, it will reflect in how we handle bigger responsibilities,” Mr Mamedu said.

He reaffirmed ActionAid’s commitment to supporting and holding government accountable in the fight against poverty, noting that the organisation’s 10-year strategy aims to lift five million Nigerians out of poverty.

“We must ensure that the next poverty review shows progress, not decline. Together, we can build a Nigeria where prosperity is shared and poverty becomes history,” he said.

Minister of budget and national planning, Atiku Bagudu, said the most effective form of social protection is ensuring that hardworking Nigerians receive fair compensation for their labour, while government support is directed to those genuinely in need.

He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to building an inclusive economy driven by productivity and innovation.

Mr Bagudu added that the Renewed Hope Development Plan aims not only to reduce poverty but to eliminate it entirely by 2030.

He said ongoing reforms were already yielding positive outcomes, including rising revenues, renewed investor confidence, and new economic initiatives.

“President Tinubu’s policy directions are bold and forward-looking. The reforms aim to ensure sustainable growth, equitable wealth distribution, and long-term national stability.

“I urge Nigerians to be patient and supportive, as the benefits of these reforms will become more visible as the economy strengthens,” Mr Bagudu said.

(NAN)