A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on President Bola Tinubu to comprehensively evaluate and strengthen the Federal Government's social intervention programmes. Oyintiloye stated that these programmes should be properly implemented to alleviate the economic hardship faced by Nigerians. He made this appeal while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo, the state capital, on Sunday, September 28, 2026.
Oyintiloye suggested that existing social intervention programmes covering youth employment, skills development, cash transfers, school feeding, agriculture, and other forms of social protection should be reviewed for maximum impact. He emphasized that these programmes should go beyond budgetary allocations to examine poverty levels, employment creation, productivity, household purchasing power, and actual improvements in living conditions.
The APC chieftain stressed that social intervention programmes must have clear targets, transparent beneficiary selection, strong monitoring, and measurable performance indicators. This, he said, would minimise leakages, duplication, and abuse, ensuring that public funds produce identifiable benefits. Oyintiloye also urged the President to ensure that allocated funds have positive impacts on the lives of less privileged Nigerians.
Oyintiloye commended President Tinubu for allocating N462.66 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. However, he noted that Nigeria's projected poverty level for 2026 stands at about 62 to 63 per cent, which is high compared to neighbouring Ghana's multidimensional poverty rate of 21.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2025.
The APC chieftain called for improved workers' allowances and welfare packages, stating that these would increase purchasing power, stimulate local businesses, strengthen household incomes, and enable families to meet essential needs. Oyintiloye also noted that millions of Nigerians are living below the poverty line and that the President's efforts to reduce poverty through various intervention programmes should be repackaged to meet expected targets.
Despite the current economic challenges, Oyintiloye expressed confidence in President Tinubu's capacity to further reduce poverty among Nigerians. He urged Nigerians to keep believing in the President's plans for the country's upliftment, stating that the hardship currently faced will soon be a thing of the past. Oyintiloye attributed the current economic challenges to the removal of fuel subsidy and the monetary policy of the President, which he believes are putting the country on the right path.
Oyintiloye concluded by urging Nigerians to continue praying for the country and to play their part in supporting President Tinubu to achieve his plans. He emphasized that the President's efforts to alleviate poverty and address economic challenges should not be truncated by selfish individuals. The APC chieftain's call for a comprehensive review of social intervention programmes and improved welfare packages reflects the concerns of many Nigerians who are seeking relief from the current economic hardship.
Key points
- APC chieftain Olatunbosun Oyintiloye urges President Bola Tinubu to strengthen social intervention programmes.
- Nigeria's projected poverty level for 2026 stands at about 62 to 63 per cent.
- Oyintiloye commends President Tinubu for allocating N462.66 billion to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
