Harvard alumnus advises incoming govt on economic growth

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

Aformer Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ms Ifueko

Okauru, has urged the incoming government to focus on policies that will bring collective economic growth.

She advised the incoming administration to create an enabling environment that would foster the private sector to thrive which would also help reduce unemployment.

Okauru spoke during the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of Nigeria’s dinner, where the association hosted 64 students from 24 countries on the Africa Policy trek.

Also, Nigeria for the first time, hosted the ‘Harvard trek’ which was an opportunity for students whose backgrounds were in public policy and government administration to interact, learn and understand policies in countries they visit.

On her advice to the incoming administration, Okauru said, “The economy is at the heart of propelling a better quality of life for every Nigerian. Whatever we do, must translate to a higher level of disposable income for everyone to live, at the very minimum a decent life.

“So, if we do not focus on growing the economy, providing jobs, and ensuring that whatever we do, truly translates, we are not just discussing at a higher growth level, but truly translates to testimonials of the common man.”

She added, “The Harvard Kennedy School is a public policy, government intervention part of the Harvard University so all it does is really help to build those people that will go back to their various countries and influence public policy and drive government in a manner that will position countries at a much higher level.”

Also speaking on the sidelines, the President Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of Nigeria, Adaora Ugwu, said, “About 64 students and faculty of the Harvard Kennedy School from Cambridge have come to Nigeria on what they call an Africa policy trek.

“This trek they’ve done in Nigeria and Ghana and usually on these tracks they come to find out about the country, talk to the public and private sector, they want to understand governance policy and culture. So they visited Accra first and then they now come to Nigeria.”

From Abubakar Y Ojimaojo ABUJA

Clem Agba, minister of state for budget and national planning, says relevant committees on post-petrol subsidy palliative measures have not harmonised their discussions.

Agba spoke recently while addressing journalists after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The federal government budgeted N3.35 trillion for petrol subsidy payments in the first half of the year, after which the subsidy will be scrapped.

The minister said the committee, headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, had been working with the