The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, today, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to institutional performance and staff welfare, commissioning a fleet of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and announcing the reintroduction of essential provisions for the staff 

Speaking at a special staff engagement forum in his office in Abuja, Edun emphasised that the Ministry’s internal strength is vital to delivering Nigeria’s broader economic reform agenda. *This Ministry is the engine room of national transformation and that engine must be well‑fuelled,* he remarked.

The newly commissioned CNG buses, received under the Presidential Initiative on CNG, reflect a dual-purpose commitment: easing staff mobility while accelerating Nigeria’s transition to cleaner, cost‑efficient energy solutions. The move underscores the Ministry’s alignment with private sector expectations for fiscal responsibility, operational transparency, and environmental sustainability.

The event was also graced by the Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on CNG, Barr. Ismaeel Ahmed, who reiterated the programme’s mission to mainstream cleaner transport across government institutions and stimulate local industrial value chains.

The Minister also announced the revival of monthly welfare provisions to staff—a practical gesture aimed at fostering morale and stability as the Ministry leads the charge on macroeconomic reform, treasury digitalisation, and enhanced service delivery.

Ealier in her opening remarks, the

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya praised the Minister’s leadership, describing the engagement as a timely moment of unity and recommitment. 

She called on staff to reflect the professionalism and discipline that Nigeria’s economic stability demands.

As Nigeria continues to undertake difficult but necessary reforms, the Ministry’s internal cohesion and external accountability remain critical to restoring investor confidence, supporting market growth, and achieving inclusive prosperity.

The Federal Government has applauded the launch of the Produce for Lagos Programme and ₦500 Billion Off-Take Guarantee Fund, saying the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun gave the commendation today in his remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony held in Lagos. 

Represented by the Honourable Minister of State for Finance Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the  Minister highlighted the transformative potential of the programme, stating that it underscores the collective commitment to national food security and exemplifies the transformational power of partnership across levels of government and the private sector.

He stated that the programme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies agriculture as a foundational and futuristic pillar of Nigeria’s national development architecture. 

HM Edun emphasized that the programme will unlock the productive potential of farmers, traders, processors, and transporters and promote inter-state economic solidarity.

*We are blessed with vibrant populations, abundant natural resources, and an entrepreneurial spirit that positions us not as competitors, but as partners with a shared vision of resilient economies, inclusive growth, and sustainable development,* he stated.

The ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund was highlighted as a bold and timely intervention, providing assurance to farmers, agribusinesses, and investors, and reducing risks associated with agricultural investments. *It tells every farmer that their sweat will be matched with sustainability. Every agribusiness that their risks will be reduced. Every investor that agriculture is bankable, investable, and scalable,* the Minister emphasized.

Edun also highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to revamping and scaling the agricultural sector through various initiatives, including the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket Programme (NAGS-AP), and the development of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs). 

A $1 billion strategic agreement with the Government of Brazil under the Green Imperative Project was also mentioned, aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s agricultural landscape through the provision of 10,000 tractors, modern farm implements, and agro-processing equipment.

He commended the visionary team behind the project and called on all stakeholders to join hands in building a future where Lagos feeds itself and contributes meaningfully to national food sufficiency. *Let it be a call to action for all stakeholders to join hands in building a future where Lagos feeds itself—and contributes meaningfully to national food sufficiency,* the Minister concluded.

The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering local government institutions as a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth.

 Speaking at a high-level policy dialogue hosted by AGORA Policy with support from the MacArthur Foundation, the Minister  underscored that strengthening local governance is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s poverty reduction strategy. *Grassroots empowerment is not just a governance issue, it’s an economic imperative,* he said.

HM Edun referenced the Federal Government’s recent compliance with the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on local government autonomy, affirming that only democratically elected local councils now receive direct allocations from the Federation Account. This, he clarified, is not a policy choice but the government’s constitutional obligation to uphold the judgment of the highest court of the land.

To reinforce this shift, the Federal Government has launched targeted initiatives including the Nutrition 774 Programme, Project 774 Digital Connectivity, and the HOPE Programme supported by the World Bank. Each intervention is designed to drive outcomes in human capital development, digital access, and local-level service efficiency — all critical to unlocking Nigeria’s long-term productivity.

*These are not symbolic gestures,* Edun stated. *They are structured investments in governance that catalyse private sector confidence, reduce economic exclusion, and foster scalable development.*

He concluded by calling for deeper coordination between all tiers of government, emphasising that the full economic benefit of local government reform can only be realised through strategic collaboration and policy discipline.