NESG submits economy revival report to Buhari soon – Minister

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is to receive the recommendations of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group on how to revamp the economy soon, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said on Tuesday.

She said this at a press briefing in Abuja where the NESG presented the recommendations that were put together from its 26th National Economic Summit.

“We will transmit the recommendations to the President and in deed make the report of this summit available to the Federal Government,” Ahmed stated.

She further stated that the government would put in place policies that would ensure the implementation of the recommendations in ministries, departments and agencies.

The Chairman, NESG, Asue Ighodalo, said the proper implementation of the recommendations would go a long way in revamping the Nigerian economy, particularly after the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said part of the recommendations included the empowerment Nigerian youths, as he urged the government tackle youth unemployment, underemployment, employability, and entrepreneurship.

He said, “There is the need to re-skill and up-skill youth in labour market, transition them from informal to formal economy and boost their participation in the gig economy.

“Government should conduct an impact assessment of previous youth empowerment programmes, partner the private sector to co-create investment funds that will be managed by private sector and designated for empowering young people.”

Ighodalo said Nigeria’s education curriculum should be reviewed and include entrepreneurship as a key

part of learning in schools.

The NESG boss said all governments must lead the way in proactively navigating the country towards recovery and resilience.

This, he said, should be by expanding economic opportunities for all Nigerians through sound policies, strong institutions, and responsible public investments, especially pro-poor investments.