FG: 2024 Budget will Transform Nigeria, Improve Living Conditions of Citizens

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna

The federal government has said that the passage of the 2024 budget by the National Assembly will mark the beginning of transforming the country and bring about tangible improvements to the lives of Nigerians.

Speaking yesterday in Kaduna, at the 2023 Annual Lecture and General Meeting of the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, said President Bola Tinubu, came into office at a very challenging time in the nation’s history, stressing that the president has confronted all the inherited challenges head-on.

The theme of the lecture was: ‘Demographic Translation, Ethical Resources, and Sustainable Development: Reflections on Northern Nigeria’.
The minister said the budget signifies a pivotal step towards the realisation of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, by aligning fiscal strategies and priorities with broader national development objectives.

“Just this week, he presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill of N27.5 trillion to the National Assembly, the first full-year Budget of his Administration. The budget as presented signifies a pivotal step towards the realisation of his Renewed Hope Agenda, by aligning fiscal strategies and priorities with broader national development objectives.

“In addition to its focus on development priorities, the budget demonstrates a commitment to fiscal responsibility. President Tinubu’s administration recognises the importance of prudent financial management as the foundation for long-term economic stability. As the 2024 appropriation bill moves through the legislative process, we are very optimistic that its passage will mark the beginning of a transformative era, bringing tangible improvements to the lives of Nigerians,” Idris said.

The minister noted that before the budget presentation, President Tinubu had assented to a Supplementary Budget, signed some landmark Bills and Executive Orders into law, and inaugurated special presidential initiatives on fiscal policy reform, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Food Security, MSME Support, and other critical areas of the economy.

“The goal has been to deliver relief to the Nigerian people, and lay the groundwork for true and lasting prosperity,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to acknowledge that while the present administration came into office at a very challenging time in the nation’s history, the president has confronted all the inherited challenges head-on.

“Nigerians have as president a transformational leader with a solid track record in the private sector and at the level of subnational government. A man who will not be fazed by challenges and obstacles, who has regularly said he does not need pity or sympathy; because he asked for and passionately sought the job,” he said.

While speaking on the theme of the lecture “Demographic Translation, Ethical Resources, and Sustainable Development: Reflections on Northern Nigeria”, Idris said the concept of Demographic Transition was a very crucial topic in Nigeria, considering the country’s growing population, which is projected to be the third most populous country in the world, after India and China, and ahead of the United States by 2050.

“On top of this, we are a very young population, with a median age of 19. What this means is that half of the population of our country is younger than 20. You can imagine what the implications of this are for our present and our future: education, healthcare, jobs, security, economic potential.”