Meanwhile, the Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said the projects the state embarked upon were targeted at alleviating poverty among residents.
The commissioner stated that the state government, in its desire to make life easier for the people, organized skill acquisition training to uplift residents out of poverty.
He noted that the minister was not referring to the state, as an index released by a Federal Government agency showed that Edo was seventh among states working to eradicate poverty and better the lives of its people.
The Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Akwa Ibom, Mr Ini Ememobong, said it was wrong for the Federal Government to blame state governors for rising poverty in the country.
He said, “What determines poverty and unemployment in a country is economic policies. Economic policies are set nationally. So, the Federal Government cannot abdicate its responsibility.
It is only a sign of a sinking Federal Government to begin to blame state governors that have yet to see true federalism as being responsible for poverty.
