IMF, World Bank remedies can’t revive Nigerian economy – Don – Newstrends
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IMF, World Bank remedies can’t revive Nigerian economy – Don

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12 months ago

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IMF, World Bank remedies can’t revive Nigerian economy – Don

The chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, Dr. Chima Amadi, yesterday said economic remedies from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank cannot revive the Nigerian economy.

He also said the policies of the two international financial institutions may not be able to raise 200 million Nigerians out of poverty.

He asked the nation to look beyond ideas being imposed by developed countries.

He said developing countries should have the autonomy to choose policies that best suit their conditions.

Amadi, who made the submissions at the 4th National Colloquium in Sokoto, said the nation’s high inflation rate was indefensible.

He said: “Compared with other African and Asian countries, especially Indonesia, which is comparable to Nigeria in most respects, economic development in Nigeria has been disappointing.

“With GDP of about $45 billion in 2001 and per capita income of about $300 a year, Nigeria has become one of the poorest countries in the world. As of 2000 it had earned about $300 billion from oil exports since the mid-1970s, but its per capita income was 20 percent lower than in 1975.

“Meanwhile, the country has become so heavily indebted – external and domestic debt amount to about 70 percent of GDP— that it has serious difficulty servicing debts. Regional and sectoral unevenness in growth performance is high.

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“From the foregoing, it is simply clear that to raise 200 million Nigerians out of poverty as this current administration has resolved to do within the next decade, it would take more than just making it a campaign mantra but a radical departure from economic orthodoxy of the Global North evinced in the Washington Consensus model.”

Amadi, who is a doctoral fellow at the University of Warwick in the UK, said economic growth strategies recommended by developed countries for developing nations are unworkable.

He said the developed countries had been promoting  strategies which they had never practiced.

He added:” Historical context of development shows that many of today’s developed countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States achieved economic growth through strategies like tariffs, subsidies and regulations to protect their nascent industries. This historical perspective contrasts sharply with the free-market liberalisation policies they now promote for developing countries.

“The neoliberal policies advocated by institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) such as rapid liberalisation of trade and investment, privatization and deregulation are not consistent with the historical experiences of successful development.

“In fact, these policies might even hinder the growth of developing nations by exposing them prematurely to global competition,” he added.

He said the federal government should adopt subsidies and other forms of intervention to save the economy.

Amadi said: “The state must play a significant role in guiding economic development similar to the way it was utilised by now-developed countries during their own developmental stages.

“This includes the use of tariffs, subsidies and other forms of government intervention to support budding industries. Shall we forget hastily how former president Donald Trump used tariffs to effectively protect the American economy from the onslaught of the Chinese trade practices?

“Developing countries should have the autonomy to choose policies that best suit their unique economic conditions and developmental stages. This contrasts with the one-size-fits-all approach often prescribed by international economic organizations.

“By providing this historical and critical analysis, I dare Nigeria’s leaders and economic policymakers to not be afraid to challenge conventional economic wisdom and call for a more nuanced and historically informed approach to economic development policy, especially for developing countries.

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“There is now an urgent need for policy diversity and experimentation, making it incumbent on policymakers to acknowledge that strategies successful in one country may not be universally applicable.”

On the nation’s high inflation rate, Amadi blamed it on over-reliance on oil revenue.

He added; “Inflation in Nigeria has been a complex and challenging issue throughout its history. The nation’s heavy reliance on oil revenues, inadequate diversification of the economy, policy mismanagement, and global economic dynamics have all played significant roles in shaping inflation trends.

“Before Nigeria gained independence in 1960, the country’s inflation rate was relatively low, primarily due to its agrarian economy and limited industrialization.

“ The 1970s marked a period of rapid economic growth fueled by oil exports, which led to a significant increase in government revenue. However, this period also witnessed rising inflationary pressures as the influx of petrodollars and increased government spending drove consumer demand and importation.

“The 1970s oil boom brought immense wealth to Nigeria, but it also led to economic imbalances. The nation became heavily reliant on oil exports, leading to a neglect of other sectors and creating vulnerabilities to oil price fluctuations.

“In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Nigeria experienced double-digit inflation, soaring to a peak of over 23% in 1984. The government’s mismanagement of fiscal policies and its inability to diversify the economy contributed to this inflation surge.”

IMF, World Bank remedies can’t revive Nigerian economy – Don

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Yahaya Bello reports to EFCC office with lawyers

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13 hours ago

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November 26, 2024

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Yahaya Bello reports to EFCC office with lawyers

 

A former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Tuesday visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to honour another invitation extended to him over alleged misappropriation of funds.

Bello went to the anti-graft office with his lawyers in the morning.

The ex-Kogi governor reportedly drove himself to the EFCC’s office in a black Toyota Hilux van with some lawyers.

He was said to have been taken by some operatives of the agency and are currently being grilled.

This is  coming after the Supreme Court judgment which dismissed a suit brought by some state governments challenging the constitutionality of the agency.

The EFCC at the last hearing on November 14, sought the adjournment till November 27 in the fresh case it instituted against Bello.

It stated that the 30-day window was still running for the summons earlier issued.

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Just in: Ebonyi governor suspends two commissioners, Perm Sec for misconduct 

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14 hours ago

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November 26, 2024

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Just in: Ebonyi governor suspends two commissioners, Perm Sec for misconduct 

 

Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has announced the immediate suspension of two commissioners with a permanent secretary among others for gross misconduct.

Those suspended are the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development Francis Ori, and the Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma, with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health.

The suspension followed an incident on Saturday night, when the governor reportedly visited the Ministry of Health’s premises and was said to have found six officials diverting government materials.

Others suspended for three months are the Executive Secretaries of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency

The suspension order was announced by the state Commissioner for Information, Jude Okpor, who cited alleged misconduct and dereliction of duties as the reasons for the disciplinary actions.

Okpor made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press briefing on the outcomes of the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday at the New Government House in Abakaliki, the state capital.

“Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, respectively

“In view of the development, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health was directed to take charge of the ministry in the absence of the suspended commissioner.

Governor Nwifuru directed the suspended government officials to hand over all government properties in their possession including vehicles to the Secretary to the State Government.

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Why we’re borrowing despite surplus revenues – FG

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19 hours ago

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November 26, 2024

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Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun

Why we’re borrowing despite surplus revenues – FG

The Federal Government has defended its decision to borrow to address budget deficits, despite surpassing revenue targets in 2024.

Finance Minister Wale Edun and Budget Minister Atiku Bagudu clarified this position during a session with the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Finance, Budget, and National Planning. The meeting focused on the 2025–2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

Last week, the National Assembly approved President Bola Tinubu’s $2.2 billion loan request to fund the N9.7 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget partially.

During the session, key agency heads, including Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) CEO Mele Kyari, Customs Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi, and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Zacch Adedeji, presented their revenue reports.

The agencies reported exceeding their 2024 targets.

  • Customs Service: Generated ₦5.352 trillion by September 30, surpassing its ₦5.09 trillion target for the year. For 2025, the agency projects ₦6.3 trillion, with a 10% increase planned for 2026.
  • NNPCL: Achieved ₦13.1 trillion in revenue, exceeding the ₦12.3 trillion projection for 2024. Kyari announced a ₦23.7 trillion revenue target for 2025.

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  • FIRS: Surpassed multiple tax collection goals, including ₦5.7 trillion from company income tax against a ₦4 trillion target. Education tax collections also exceeded expectations, reaching ₦1.5 trillion compared to a ₦70 billion target.

Overall, ₦18.5 trillion of the ₦19.4 trillion 2024 revenue target had been achieved by September, indicating the goal will be exceeded by year-end.

Despite these surpluses, the government insists borrowing remains essential to cover budget gaps and support vulnerable populations.

Bagudu explained, “Even with agencies exceeding revenue targets, borrowing is necessary to address deficits and boost productivity, particularly for the poorest. This aligns with Agenda 2050, which aims for a GDP per capita of $33,000.”

Edun also reiterated that loans were critical for adequately funding the budget.

The committee, led by Senator Sani Musa, questioned the rationale behind the borrowing and demanded further transparency. The Immigration Service was specifically asked to provide documents regarding an “unacceptable PPP arrangement” before the end of the week.

The session underscored the government’s balancing act between increased revenues and fiscal challenges requiring external borrowing.

Why we’re borrowing despite surplus revenues – FG

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