Business
World Bank Report Highlights Insufficient Health and Education Spending in Nigeria
According to a recent report by the World Bank, Nigeria’s public expenditure on health and education falls significantly below international standards, posing challenges for basic service delivery.
Titled ‘Human Capital Public Expenditure and Institutional Review,’ the report emphasizes that Nigeria allocates only about 12% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to public spending, which is lower than the Sub-Saharan African average of 17.2% and the average of 18.5% for lower middle-income countries. Over the past five years, Nigeria’s spending on health and education has ranged between 10% and 12% of GDP, which the report deems inadequate for meeting essential public service needs.
The report further notes that Nigeria’s per capita spending on education stands at $23, with states contributing $14 and the federal government covering the rest. Similarly, the per capita spending on health is $15, with states contributing $8.5. These figures are described as inadequate when compared to international benchmarks, especially considering the country’s challenges with out-of-school children and child mortality rates.
The World Bank attributes the low spending levels primarily to constrained overall public spending, influenced by low revenue generation. In 2021, allocations to education and health constituted 10.1% and 6.6% of the national budget respectively, with larger shares allocated to general public services and economic affairs.
The report recommends increasing budget execution rates at state levels and enhancing federal and state allocations in the medium to long term to ensure adequate financing for health and education services. It underscores the importance of political will and commitment from Nigerian leaders to improve funding in these critical sectors, enhance the national health insurance scheme, and prioritize transparency and accountability in expenditure.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Tanimola Akande, a Public Health expert, highlighted Nigeria’s shortfall in health funding compared to international benchmarks, attributing it to poor health outcomes and infrastructure challenges. He stressed the need for improved budget performance and efficiency in spending to enhance healthcare delivery and reduce dependency on external funding.
The report underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to prioritize and increase investments in health and education to improve public service delivery and foster national development.
Business
Logan Paul Faces Scrutiny Over Cryptocurrency Promotions and Investments
Logan Paul, a prominent social media influencer with over 23 million YouTube subscribers, is under fire for his involvement in cryptocurrency projects. Accusations have surfaced that Paul may have profited by allegedly misleading fans into investments that caused token prices to spike.
Paul’s influence in the crypto space has been growing over the past three years, as his videos increasingly reference blockchain technologies and investment opportunities. However, some critics argue his endorsements lack transparency, fueling speculation that he may have sold tokens at inflated prices after his promotions.
Adding to his challenges, Paul is embroiled in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit over CryptoZoo, a failed crypto project he backed. The venture was marketed as a play-to-earn game, but investors claim they lost significant sums when the project collapsed.
Paul has denied any wrongdoing in connection to both CryptoZoo and his other cryptocurrency activities. Despite the controversy, he remains a major figure in the influencer world, leveraging his platform to shape conversations and trends across various industries.
Business
Walmart Raises Full-Year Outlook as Holiday Shopping Boosts Sales
Walmart has once again raised its annual sales forecast, citing stronger-than-expected consumer spending on non-grocery items, increased home delivery orders, and early holiday shopping. The retail giant now anticipates net sales growth between 4.8% and 5.1% for the fiscal year, up from its previous projection of 3.75% to 4.75%.
The updated outlook was announced alongside third-quarter earnings that surpassed Wall Street expectations. Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey noted that general merchandise sales increased year-over-year for the second consecutive quarter, reversing a decline that spanned 11 quarters. However, he highlighted that customers remain price-sensitive, waiting for deals, particularly as food prices remain elevated.
“We’re expecting this holiday period to be very consistent with that,” Rainey said, emphasizing shoppers’ focus on price and value.
Walmart’s strong performance propelled its shares up by about 3% in early trading, reaching a 52-week high and setting a new all-time intraday record since the company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 1972.
For the quarter ending October 31, Walmart reported a sharp increase in net income, rising to $4.58 billion, or 57 cents per share, compared with $453 million, or 6 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue climbed to $164.05 billion, up from $160.80 billion in the same period last year.
Comparable sales, a key industry metric, grew 5.3% for Walmart U.S. and 7% at Sam’s Club (excluding fuel). Walmart also reported higher customer engagement, with U.S. transactions rising 3.1% and average ticket size increasing 2.1% year-over-year.
Business
Spirit Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Amid Financial Struggles
US budget airline Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy protection, citing prolonged financial losses and failed merger attempts. The Florida-based carrier announced on Monday that it has secured an agreement to restructure its debt and raise funds during a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, expected to conclude by early 2025.
Spirit assured customers that its operations will continue as normal throughout the process, with no impact on passenger travel, employee wages, or payments to aircraft leasing firms.
This marks the first bankruptcy filing by a US airline in over a decade, with the last major case being American Airlines’ 2011 filing to address labor costs and high fuel prices. Spirit, however, has faced unique challenges, including intensified competition in the budget travel sector and engine-related mechanical issues that have grounded aircraft and increased operating expenses.
The airline has not posted a full-year profit since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and reported losses of approximately $360 million (£285 million) in the first half of 2024, despite strong demand for budget travel.
As part of its restructuring, Spirit will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in the near future, and its stock shares will be canceled without value.
The airline remains optimistic that the Chapter 11 process will help it emerge more financially stable, ensuring continued service to its customers and support for its employees.
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