Former Minister of National Planning, Prince Clement Agba, has said the Federal Government should not be held responsible for the growing level of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria. He made this known while speaking at the Honourary National Steering Committee Meeting and Dinner organised by the OGP Global Support Unit.

Agba explained that multidimensional poverty goes beyond income and includes lack of access to education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and other basic services. According to him, the Nigerian Constitution clearly places the responsibility for providing these services on state governments and the 774 local government councils.

He questioned why the Federal Government is often blamed for the estimated 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, insisting that the blame lies mainly with states and local councils. Agba argued that many governors focus most of their resources on developing state capitals while neglecting rural communities and local government areas where poverty is most severe.

The former minister also criticised state and local governments for prioritising tertiary healthcare projects instead of investing in primary healthcare centres, which directly serve grassroots communities. He added that recent comments by President Bola Tinubu on strengthening local governance align with the need to redirect attention and resources to communities where they are most needed.