Former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has advocated for stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments in key sectors such as education, agriculture, and poverty alleviation, as a solution to the growing economic hardships faced by Nigerians. Speaking on Thursday as a guest on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, Akande emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to address pressing issues like poverty, human capital development, and education.
Akande said, “I see the logic that the federal government has to collaborate with the states in a lot of issues especially on those that are important to the people. What are the issues? Poverty, human capital development and health and education. In all of those areas, the states themselves have a responsibility. These are not exclusive list matters. The issues that touch the lives of the people, they’re not exclusive list. They’re issues that the states themselves have a responsibility to deliver on.
“On the areas of education, health, and poverty Alleviation, we want to see more collaboration with the states. For instance, the UBEC Funds. Many of the states say they don’t have the counterpart funding for it. What can the new Minister for Education do about it to get these funds to the states? There’s money sitting down in the cofers of UBEC close to N50billion that states cannot access,” he added.
In light of the recent cabinet reshuffle, Akande expressed optimism about some of the appointments, particularly Dr. Jumoke Oduwole as the new Minister of Economic Planning. He described her as one of the best appointments in the new cabinet, citing her extensive experience and brilliance in addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges. “She has been on this problem for at least seven years. I think the president has tried to inject fresh energy into the economic team by bringing Jumoke on board,” Akande said.
However, he raised concerns about certain ministers who remained in their positions despite public controversies. Specifically, he questioned the retention of Bello Matawalle as Minister of Defence, citing allegations of misconduct. “I’m not sure there’s sufficient justification to keep Matawalle on the job with all the noise and allegations leveled against him by a sitting governor. These claims of supporting banditry need a formal public review,” Akande said.
Addressing the survival of ministers in critical sectors like power and the newly created Ministry of Blue Economy, Akande suggested that more could have been done in terms of cabinet reshuffling. While he acknowledged the potential in these sectors, he pointed to the need for improved communication and better time management, particularly for the Blue Economy under the leadership of Gboyega Oyetola. “I’m not sure whether one year is enough to see the fruits of the Blue Economy, but better communication is key,” Akande remarked.
In agriculture, Akande pointed out that both the federal and state governments could work together to reduce the cost of living by improving the transportation of farm produce. He suggested that better coordination in transporting agricultural products from farms to markets could help lower food prices and alleviate poverty.
“On Transportation, states can work with the Federal government to transport farm produce from the farms to the market in a way that can bring down the costs. There are many areas were states and Federal government can collaborate and we’re hoping both levels of government will do these things,” Akande noted.
As Nigeria continues to navigate economic challenges, Akande’s call for collaboration underscores the importance of joint efforts between different levels of government. By working together on key issues, he believes both the federal and state governments can provide much-needed relief to Nigerians facing hardship.
