The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen Ph.D, has said that lifting Nigerians out of poverty caused by the myriad of economic challenges would require a paradigm shift.
Speaker Abbas, while addressing a delegation from the Civil Society Leaders Forum on Social Protection, which paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Wednesday, said the current challenges Nigerians face due to fuel subsidy removal would soon be history.
Lifting Nigerians out of poverty brought on by the numerous economic difficulties, according to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen Ph.D., would necessitate a paradigm shift.
Speaking to a group from the Civil Society Leaders Forum on Social Protection that paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Wednesday, Speaker Abbas predicted that the difficulties Nigerians are currently experiencing as a result of the elimination of gasoline subsidies would soon pass into history.
He urged Nigerians to view the current economic crisis as the inevitable results of certain difficult choices, arguing that before things could get better, a level of difficulty had to exist.
“Restructuring takes time because things have to get tough before they get better, and this is just the start. People must realize that obstacles lie in the path of brighter times, the Speaker remarked.
In response to data on Nigeria’s position in the global poverty index and reasons why conditional cash transfers should be considered a genuine tool for achieving social protection, the Speaker assured the delegation that his leadership is ready to work with the civil society to develop long-term solutions to socio-economic problems.
“Since I became Speaker, I don’t think I have engaged any organization that has made me feel a bit down on the revelations of where we are as a country and the enormous challenges that we are facing (like yours),” the Speaker claimed.
I appreciate you being direct, honest, and sincere about our current situation, the likelihood of the negative effects, and the potential outcomes if things are not handled correctly.
But I can tell you that we will act under my leadership. In order to produce new results, Speaker Abbas emphasized the necessity for a change in how policy issues are approached. He also promised that his office would take up the task by setting up a channel for social discourse.