Public-Private Partnerships needed to achieve development goals – FG.

Public-Private Partnerships needed to achieve development goals – FG.

The Federal Government has admitted that working together with the private sector will help it achieve its development goals, particularly because the government’s resources are decreasing.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, made the admission during the 30th Annual Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) Development Forum in Abuja.

The Minister said it had become necessary to sustain the partnership with the private sector to advance the development agenda in the light of diminishing government revenue.

Senator Bagudu, represented by Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, the Director of International Cooperation, explained that Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) play a vital role in addressing areas not covered by the government, including healthcare, the environment, the economy, public policy, and support for vulnerable citizens.

He stressed that “the government’s policy objectives are crucial for both state and non-state actors, and NGOs should work in alignment with the national development plan, ensuring inclusivity and non-discrimination in addressing the diverse needs of society.”

The Minister acknowledged the significant challenges faced by the government including a revenue deficit, slow economic growth, rapid population growth, increasing unemployment, and high inflation.

He urged non-governmental organizations ‘to play a role in helping the government address these issues and cover areas where the government’s resources and capacity fall short”.

Dr. James-Wisdom Abhulimen, the Head of Programme and Corporate Communications at LAPO, emphasized the importance of non-state actors, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in complementing government efforts to promote national and economic development because the government cannot shoulder this responsibility alone.