Tope Fasua, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Economic Affairs, has asserted that the living condition of very poor people in Nigeria is getting better by the day. He made this remark during an interview with Channels Television while defending the Tinubu administration’s handling of poverty and the economy.
Local Government Autonomy Key to Poverty Reduction
Fasua emphasized that the solution to poverty lies at the local government level, which is why President Tinubu has advocated for local government autonomy and ensured states receive increased funding. He stated that the days of civil servants being owed 18 months, 12 months, or even six months of salary are gone. Pensioners are now receiving their payments more promptly, which he believes directly impacts the most vulnerable populations.
“I can tell you that, honestly, for the very poor people in this country, the situation is getting better and perhaps better than it used to be,” Fasua said. He attributed this improvement to the federal government pushing finances to state and local governments, ensuring salaries are paid on time and that the most vulnerable segments of the population receive support.
Lessons from China's Poverty Eradication Programme
Fasua referenced the China Poverty Eradication Programme, which involved documenting every household. He argued that Nigeria cannot implement such a program at the federal level and must rely on local and state governments to reach the poor effectively. He expressed confidence that the funds allocated to these levels of government will help secure President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
“The federal government knows that you cannot do that; you can only do that through the local government, through the state government. And so these monies that have been pushed to them are what are going to win the election for us. I have no doubt that Bola Ahmed Tinubu is coming back in 2027 anyway,” Fasua added.
