FG targets 0.6% poverty rate, 6.3% unemployment rate

The Federal Government said it targets to reduce the poverty rate to 0.6 per cent and the unemployment rate to 6.3 per cent by 2030 and 2050 agenda.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, said this at a news briefing for the 29th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Thursday.

The theme of the #NES29 scheduled for October 23 to 24 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja is “Pathways to Sustainable Economic Transformation and Inclusion”.

Bagudu said that the theme was chosen to discuss the imperatives for transforming the nation’s economy while ensuring inclusivity.

He said that the discussions around the theme would be on five sub-themes; namely, stimulating economic growth and mobilising finance for sustainable development.

They also include harnessing human capital development, promoting national cohesion inclusion, and reforming public institutions, among others.

Bagudu said that the sub-themes would address relevant pillars in the National Development Plan 2021-2025, the Nigeria Agenda 2050, and the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The main target of the Nigeria Agenda 2050 is to increase the country’s per capita GDP to 6,000 dollars and 33,000 dollars by 2030 and 2050 respectively.

“It will also bring the poverty rate to 0.6 per cent and unemployment rate to 6.3 per cent while transiting the economy to the highest per capita GDP in the group of upper-middle-income economies.

“The plan will be effectively implemented by successive governments through six number 5-Year Medium-Term National Development Plans and Annual Budgets,” he said.

The minister said that the renewed hope agenda and eight priority areas of the current administration were aimed at fast-tracking the goals of the Nigeria Agenda 2050

Also, the NDP 2021-2025 with a double-digit growth rate and inclusive development.

“The ministry is in the process of conducting the mid-term review of the NDP 2021-2025 with the purpose of fine-tuning the plan and ensuring that the renewed hope agenda of the current government is incorporated into the NDP 2021-2025.

“The Ministry will welcome innovative ideas from the stakeholders at the summit to ensure its effective integration into the NDP 2021-2025,” Bagudu said.

He said that the success of the summit would depend on the active and deliberate participation of all critical stakeholders.

The stakeholders, according to him include the Federal Government, sub-national government, private sector operators, civil society organizations, the media, and development partners,” Bagudu said.

The minister commended the contributions and commitments of the various corporate organisations and government institutions towards the successful hosting of the summit.