Okonjo Iweala Tasks President-Elect, Others On Better Welfare For Pensioners, Teachers

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation, (WTO) Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, has tasked the president-elect and re- elected Governors to ensure better welfare for pensioners and teachers as well as be mindful of acquiring huge debt profiles for their various states across the country.

Iweala stated this on Monday at the opening of the 2023 induction for Re-elected and elected governors with the theme: Governing for Impact: Building Sub-national Governance, organised by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

The former Finance Minister urged the governors to invest in infrastructure, education and basic healthcare, to endeavour to pay teachers, healthcare workers and pensioners. 

She called on states to publish federation revenue allocation and IGI that accrue to them to earn the citizens' trust and keep them abreast of their finances.

“We used to publish this information during my time as finance minister under President Obasanjo and Jonathan’s administrations, you must resume this practice so your citizens can have information to your account.

“Your Excellency, Please watch your debt profiles and keep careful control of expenditure.

"Even as we invest in infrastructure, education and basic healthcare, please endeavour to pay teachers and healthcare workers.”

Okonjo-Iweala stressed that states have a substantial responsibility, noting that only a few states are raising internally generated revenue of any significance..”

Speaking further, Iweala urged the Governors to figure out ways to increase internally generated revenue (IGR), saying this should go hand in hand with their share of the federal allocation, which she said is substantial, more transparently, efficient and effective. 

Also speaking at the event,  Billionaire businessman, Tony Elumelu has called on Nigerian leaders particularly governors of 36 States of the federation to empower young people for national development.

 Speaking on the theme, “Task of Nation Building,” Elumelu who noted that investment in young people is a guarantee for national transformation, said, “The next generation is our hope for a better Nigeria.

"If we empower young people in our states and give them an enabling environment to grow, they will transform Nigeria."