Social Protection Policy: FG on path to inclusive growth – Planning Minister

Abuja (National Planning Commission Report) – The  Minister / Deputy Chairman of the  National Planning Commission (NPC), Abubakar Olanrewaju  Sulaiman (Dr) has posited that overall development remains the surest way to achieving an all-inclusive growth, saying a social protection policy for the downtrodden is underway.

The Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Abdulrahman A. Abdulrauf in a statement released recently said that the National Planning Commission Minister while featuring on ‘Good Morning Nigeria,’ a breakfast show on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Abuja noted that the Goodluck Jonathan administration has lately allocated N2 billion to each state of the federation to empower the middle class entrepreneurs.

While reacting to  questions from NTA presenters during the show on the report that one percent of the world’s population owns over fifty percent of the entire  global wealth, the Minister explained that an all round development remains the surest path to achieving an all –inclusive growth. ”Inclusive growth can only be achieved through  a wholesome development. It is only by empowering the middle class that you can foster and ensure an inclusive growth; that is by making capital accessible to them,” he stated.

“And this is what the Goodluck administration has been doing. Recently, the sum of N2 billion was allocated for each state of the federation to be accessed by artisans and small scale industrialists and even those involved in agriculture.  This is the best way to produce more Dangotes. The impact will not be felt now, but in the next four to five years, you will start seeing the result.”

The Minister further mentioned that the commission in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance is putting together a social protection policy to take care of the downtrodden. On the sustainability of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP), Abubakar Sulaiman assured that a policy framework is being put in place to ensure its  continuity. He stressed that  the federal  and state governments are in agreement towards achieving the NIIMP blueprint.