Social safety nets essential for poor Nigerians amid economic reforms, says Okonjo-Iweala after meeting Tinubu
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, President of the World Trade Organisation, has emphasized the need for social safety nets for impoverished Nigerians grappling with the effects of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
Okonjo-Iweala made this known after a meeting with the president at the Aso Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
While recognizing the government’s commendable efforts in reforming the economy—specifically the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange windows—Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the pressing need for support mechanisms to help those affected by these changes.
“We think that the President and his team have worked hard to stabilize the economy. You cannot really improve an economy unless it is stable. So, he has to be given credit for the stability of the economy. The reforms have been in the right direction,” she stated.
However, she cautioned, “What is needed next is growth; we now need to grow the economy, and we need to put in social safety nets so that people who are feeling the pinch of the reforms can also have some supports to weather the hardship. That’s the next step.”
Source: Channels TV
