With Finance Minister Wale Edun sidelined by illness, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso will represent Nigeria at the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) holding this week in Washington, DC.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed on Sunday that Edun, who also serves as coordinating minister of the economy, is “indisposed” and will not make the trip.
Newswatch Plus gathered that the minister is still in Nigeria and may be flown abroad for treatment if his condition does not improve.
Cardoso is expected to lead a delegation that includes Minister of State for Finance Doris Uzoka-Anite and other senior government officials. The meetings, which open on Monday, will focus on global economic recovery, fiscal stability, and development financing.
According to the World Bank, key sessions will include the Development Committee plenary on October 16 and the International Monetary and Financial Committee meeting on October 17, alongside several regional briefings and press conferences.
In its latest Nigeria Development Update released on October 8, the World Bank urged the Nigerian government to audit the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, raise health taxes, and review the value-added tax (VAT) regime. It also called for deliberate measures to ensure that ongoing reforms deliver real improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
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