The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule and Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, on Monday said that the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS), was designed to support the government’s aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
They said the strategy was to accelerate poverty reduction through economic growth and social protection programmes.
According to them: “The inauguration of the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) became imperative given the enormous challenge of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years as promised by Mr President.”
In a joint address as co-chairs of the TWGs during the virtual inauguration of the groups in Abuja, they noted that the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) would be delivered through four technical working groups and seven inflight programmes.
They listed the TWGs to include Social Protection TWG; Human Capital Development; Work Placement and Skills Development TWG; Manufacturing and Trade TWG; and the Sectorial Programmes TWG.
They said the seven inflight programmes included Regulatory cost of compliance; (TVET training); National Apprenticeship Scheme; Multi Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI); National Beneficiaries Register (NBR); Climate smart community based centres of excellence and reactivation of abandoned FGN facilities and At Risk Children Programme.
They disclosed that governance structure had three levels and coordinators of the various inflight programmes at the base where all technical works would be carried out before escalation to the Co-Chairs of the TWGs.
“All detail deliverables; activities; estimated cost; sources of funding are to be approved by TWG Co-Chairs before escalating to the National Steering Committee. Also executing MDAs are to obtain approvals from Co-Chairs to ensure alignment with Plan. At the top is the Steering Committee which has oversight on all the process. It is chaired by the Vice President of Federal Republic of Nigeria Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
“To truly reflect national outlook, the National Steering Committee has members drawn from the various segments of the society including six Governors from the six geo-political zones.”
They noted that the TWGs would be composed of the representatives from the states and federal MDAs.
“It will carry out all technical works before they are escalated to the National Steering Committee. The Technical Working Group will coordinate sectoral approaches to highlight cross-cutting interventions for joint implementation.
“The adopted approach will also address anticipated challenges of preparing an evidence-based National Poverty Reduction Strategy.
“The team is expected to among others conduct gap analysis for effective design or enhancement of NPRGS plans, policies and initiatives in collaboration with the implementing Agencies; develop scope of work and timeline: deliverables, objectives, activities, estimated cost, sources of funding and responsible MDA for each deliverable; develop key performance indicators for each deliverable/programme at national and sub-national levels in collaboration with the implementing agencies; develop reporting standard, formats and timelines for your TWG’s deliverables at National and Sub-national levels; work with NBS to develop a framework for measurement of impact on poverty, human capital indices and the attainment of SDGs using Multi-Dimensional Index (MDI) tool; work with the national M&E to develop a framework for effective performance measurement at National and Sub-national levels; develop a mechanism to align National and Sub-national NPRGS and SDG Programmes to avoid duplication, overlaps and encroachments in partnership with implementors; work with Federal, States’ MDAs, Development Partners, CSOs and Private Sector to achieve NPRGS objectives; collaborate with State SDG offices or NEC Secretariat to assess existing /planned NPRGS policies & initiatives; and tracking NPRGS programmes to ensure alignment with NDP (2021-2025).”
They pleaded with Nigerians to set their minds on developing an inclusive and participatory National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategies, adding that the nation should not lose sight of the important role Nigeria plays in the global economy.
“The strategy must, as a matter of conscious effort, be comprehensive and have the capacity to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. We want to achieve significant mile stone this year as a sign that we can deliver on Mr. President promise. As a first step we need to seek NSC’s approval for deliverables, activities, timeline, funding etc before the end of February, 2022. This is to ensure that works commences immediately,” they said.
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