WorldStage– Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has urged federal appointees to deepen their understanding of the policies and reforms of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and effectively communicate their impact to Nigerians, particularly at the grassroots.
Bagudu made the call while delivering a keynote address at the Federal Appointees Strategic Summit on the presentation and review of Ministerial and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) budget implementation.
He said effective communication of government policies must go beyond defending the administration, stressing the need for appointees to understand, document and clearly present the deliverables of their respective institutions to the Nigerian public.
The minister highlighted the removal of fuel subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market as major policy decisions taken against the backdrop of significant economic challenges, noting that the administration did not anticipate the scale of subsequent turbulence in the global economy.
According to him, the reforms, combined with international economic pressures, contributed to cost-of-living challenges and other pressures on citizens, but were also aimed at repositioning the economy for sustainable growth and strengthening the country’s fiscal capacity.
Bagudu said increased revenues accruing to the Federal Government, states and local governments had created greater fiscal space for the three tiers of government to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.
“Rather than keeping additional revenues at the centre, the President has taken the position that we should give local governments and states more money and energise everyone so that we can interrogate and fulfil our responsibilities,” he said.
He said the administration had also taken steps to address outstanding financial obligations to states, arguing that strengthening the fiscal position of sub-national governments would improve their capacity to invest in infrastructure, education, security and other public services.
The minister recalled periods when several states struggled to pay workers’ salaries despite relatively high international oil prices, with limited resources available for infrastructure and other essential services.
He said the improved fiscal position of states provided an opportunity for sub-national governments to translate increased revenues into tangible development outcomes for citizens.
On the broader economy, Bagudu said several indicators were showing improvement, including the country’s revenue to GDP ratio, while tax reforms were being pursued to improve efficiency and broaden the capacity of the tax system rather than unnecessarily burden citizens.
He, however, acknowledged that the reforms were being implemented amid global uncertainties, conflicts and disruptions to international trade and tariffs, which continue to affect food prices and the wider cost of living.
Bagudu said the progress recorded so far should not be regarded as an endpoint, noting that President Tinubu had consistently challenged members of his administration to do more in delivering measurable results.
He said the administration’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030 remained a major long-term objective, requiring sustained implementation of the National Development Plan and policies capable of supporting inclusive economic growth.
The minister also highlighted efforts to strengthen domestic production and ensure that the benefits of economic reforms reach citizens at the grassroots.
He said discussions at the National Economic Council had focused on encouraging state governments to adopt measures that would increase domestic production and ensure that the gains from economic reforms were translated into broader economic opportunities.
On resource allocation, Bagudu dismissed suggestions that government expenditure was designed to favour particular parts of the country, explaining that major spending areas, including security, infrastructure and livelihood support, were driven by national objectives.
He said security expenditure, for instance, directly supports communities affected by insecurity, while infrastructure investments are designed to improve connectivity, facilitate economic activity and expand opportunities across the country.
Bagudu therefore charged federal appointees to strengthen their engagement with citizens by documenting government interventions, explaining their objectives and communicating measurable outcomes in ways that Nigerians can understand.
He said effective documentation and communication of government deliverables would enable citizens to better assess the impact of public policies while helping government institutions demonstrate progress in implementing the administration’s development agenda.
