Buhari: We’re working to improve SDGs financing without increasing public debt

President Muhammadu Buhari says his government has adopted the integrated national financing framework (INFF) to improve funding for sustainable development goals (SDGs) without increasing public debt.

Buhari said this on Friday while speaking on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations general assembly in New York.

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, media aide to the president, Buhari said despite the COVID-19 challenge and the decline in crude oil prices in the country, his administration aligned all development plans with the SDGs to show its commitment to achieving the goals.

He said his government adopted the INFF with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to increase SDGs funding and expedite economic sustainability.

The INFF was developed as a strategy to deliver on the national development plan (2020 – 2025).

“For Nigeria and indeed Africa as a whole, achieving the SDGs will mean ending poverty and hunger, safeguarding our ecosystem and the planet and ensuring our people live in peace and prosperity by the year 2030,” he said.

“It is pertinent to state that achieving inclusive, broad-based and sustainable development is a cardinal objective of our administration.

“It is for this purpose that the federal government of Nigeria established a number of ambitious programmes in an attempt to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in Nigeria.

“The office of the senior special assistant to the president on SDGs has continued to provide technical leadership in the operations of the SDGs at all levels of governance in Nigeria.

“Today’s event marks the end of a long process which began in 2020 when the steering committee and the core working group on Nigeria’s Integrated National Financing Framework were inaugurated.

“The Integrated National Financing Framework has been developed to map out a much-needed sustainable financing plan for Nigeria to deliver on our commitment to the SDGs and national development aspirations.

“Despite the challenges caused by the sharp drop in the prices of crude oil and the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria has remained resolute in our genuine desire to maintain and grow our economy.

“The 2017-2020 Economic Recovery and Growth Plan; the 2020 Economic Sustainability Plan; the 2021 National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy; and the 2021-2025 National Development Plan are all aligned with the SDGs.

“It is in line with this commitment and with a focus on the National Development Plan (2021-2025) that, the Federal Government of Nigeria, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme, has adopted the INFF as a tool to improve SDGs financing without increasing public debt and contingent liabilities to levels that will be detrimental to economic sustainability.”

The president assured Nigerians, the international community, development partners and stakeholders behind the INFF that the initiative would be implemented immediately.