The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, emphasized that addressing the issue of lifting Nigerians out of poverty, caused by numerous economic challenges, requires a significant change in approach.
During a meeting with a delegation from the Civil Society Leaders Forum on Social Protection in Abuja, he expressed optimism that the current economic difficulties related to the removal of fuel subsidies would ultimately be overcome.
Abbas encouraged Nigerians to view the ongoing economic hardships as a natural outcome of the tough decisions being made, emphasizing that sometimes things must get more challenging before they improve. In response to statistics presented by the forum regarding Nigeria’s position in the global poverty index and the importance of conditional cash transfers for achieving social protection, the Speaker affirmed his commitment to collaborating with civil society to find sustainable solutions to the socio-economic issues affecting Nigerians.
He acknowledged the necessity of a gradual restructuring process, acknowledging that there would be difficulties along the way before reaching better days. Abbas appreciated the forum’s straightforward and sincere assessment of the country’s challenges and potential consequences if corrective actions are not taken, assuring them that under his leadership, decisive steps would be taken.
