APC chieftain urges Tinubu to review social intervention programmes

Politics

OSOGBO, Nigeria (Agency Report) — An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen and comprehensively review the Federal Government’s social intervention programmes to cushion the impact of economic hardship on Nigerians.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, made the call while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo on Sunday, saying interventions covering youth employment, skills development, cash transfers, school feeding, agriculture and other areas of social protection should be evaluated to ensure they deliver measurable benefits.

He said the assessment should go beyond budgetary allocations to determine their impact on poverty levels, employment creation, productivity, household purchasing power and living conditions.

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“Such interventions must have clear targets, transparent beneficiary selection, strong monitoring and measurable performance indicators to minimise leakages, duplication and abuse,” he said.

Oyintiloye also urged the President to ensure that public funds allocated to social intervention programmes produced identifiable benefits for vulnerable Nigerians.

He said efforts to alleviate poverty should not be undermined by individuals pursuing personal interests, adding that allocated funds should translate into improved living conditions for beneficiaries.

Oyintiloye commended the Federal Government’s allocation of N462.66 billion to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in the 2026 Appropriation Act, but said the scale of poverty remained a major concern.

He compared Nigeria’s poverty situation with Ghana’s multidimensional poverty data, which put Ghana’s national multidimensional poverty rate at 21.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2025. Nigeria’s poverty rate was estimated at 63 per cent under the national poverty line, according to the International Monetary Fund’s 2026 Article IV assessment.

Oyintiloye also called for improved workers’ allowances and welfare packages, arguing that stronger household purchasing power could stimulate local businesses and help families meet essential needs.

He said millions of Nigerians remained vulnerable and urged the government to further repackage its intervention programmes to improve their effectiveness.

Oyintiloye expressed confidence that the administration’s poverty-reduction efforts could yield better results, while urging Nigerians to support measures aimed at improving the economy.

He cited the removal of fuel subsidy and monetary policy reforms as part of the administration’s economic measures and called for continued efforts to address hardship.

The Federal Government has continued to expand its social protection architecture, including plans for the $1 billion Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme aimed at strengthening social protection and economic inclusion.

(NAN)