The multi-billionaire businessman said, “It does not reflects people’s needs.”
Gates, said he does not enjoy “speaking bluntly” to Nigeria when the people had been “so gracious enough “to invite him, however hinted that Statistical data show the country “still looks like a low- income country”.
On the review of ERGP as suggested by Gates, it is not correct to say that the economic recovery and growth plan does not give primacy to human capital, it is not correct, said the Kaduna governor.
“It is a federal government plan, what is needed is for states to have similar plans as well as adequate provisions for healthcare and education. Because the bulk of the burden for healthcare and education really rests on states governments. The disease burden of the country is largely at the primary healthcare level and this primary healthcare system is broken completely, we need to rebuild it.
“It is the responsibility of the states rather than the federal government. The federal government incentifies with funding, grants and aids. But essentially, routine immunization, primary healthcare, is the responsibility of the states.
“So it is not gaps in the ERGP that we are looking at, it is appealing to states governments to provide more money in basic education, primary healthcare.
Bill Gates further said that the recommended percentage is assuming a higher level tax collection than is taking place in Nigeria. So is up to Nigeria to decide how much percentage tax they can allocate to that.
“To date nigeria has benefited from long Programmes including world bank and various other things which it is graduating from. So, if it doesn’t allocate more money, the total money for primary healthcare will actually go down because you won’t have those loans proceeds.
“So, it is political question of the quality of revenue for these things. But I would say for the best road path, more investments is necessary.
Leave a comment