… Nigerians say bye bye to the most insensitive administration they have ever had
All eyes are on Nigeria as a new president is being inaugurated today. The President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will today make history as he will be sworn-in as the 16th president of Nigeria in Abuja
The oath of office will be administered on him by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola at the Eagle Square.
Already, delegates across the globe arrived in Nigeria over the weekend to witness this all important democratic function. Nigeria has had 24 years of unbroken democratic process.
Nigerians have high hopes that the economy which has been battered by the past Administration of Muhammadu Buhari, would begin to be resuscitated thereby giving them a new lease of life.
Bola Tinubu was declared winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential poll having polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 6,984,520 votes and Peter Obi of the Labour Party who came third with a total of 6,101,533 votes, while Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP came fourth with 1,496,687 votes.
His swearing –in is coming after eight years of excruciation economic experiences at the hands of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All ‘Progressive’ Congress (APC) who destroyed the lives of Nigerians through unprecedented poverty level, as well as compounding the security situation of the country.
As Bola Ahmed Tinubu is sworn-in today, there is no doubt that he has a lot of things to contend with. The man, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is coming in with a perception many are uncomfortable with, as he has been labeled with all manners of names.
However, some of the significant things that he would need to address almost immediately before Nigerians would loss their patience with his administration are: insecurity, Economy, Power, fuel subsidy, foreign exchange and debt.
Economy
Bola Tinubu in an 80 page document, which is his manifestoes, promised to tackle the economy by reviewing budgetary procedures.
According to him, budgetary procedure which is custom based on the country’s annual budget and fiscal policies largely on the dollar value of projected oil revenue, not only artificially restrict the federal government’s fiscal latitude, it also unduly attracts the nation’s attention toward a single source of fiscal revenue to the detriment of others.
“A more efficient fiscal methodology would be to base our budgeting on the projected level of government spending which optimises growth and jobs’ without causing unacceptable levels of inflation. As part of this prudent growth-based budgeting, we will establish a clear and mandatory inflationary ceiling on spending. However, we must break the explicit link between naira expenditure and dollar inflows into the economy.”
Security
On security, he promised that highly trained and disciplined anti-terrorist battalions to tackle insecurity in the country would be established.
The president-elect said the military units would be better equipped with tactical communications gear and new vehicles to give them a greater communications and mobility advantage over criminals, bandits and terrorists.
He said his government would reduce the country’s dependence on imported foreign military equipment by ramping up domestic production of basic and essential military hardware and equipment, including small arms and ammunition.
“Highly trained and disciplined anti-terrorist battalions (ABATTS) with special forces units will be created. Their objective shall be to seize the strategic and tactical initiative, in the hands of terrorists, kidnappers and bandits.
“We will further modernise our Armed Forces by ensuring that our weapons systems (land, sea and air) are capable of addressing current and anticipated security threats in the modern world. This shall also mean the recruitment of people who possess the technical skills required for today’s military.”
“The Police Force would be repositioned to deliver on its primary duties of community policing and maintaining law and order through crime fighting and prevention; while police personnel would be freed from extraneous duties such as VIP security and guard duties.”
“VIP Security and provision of security for government buildings, installations and other critical assets will be transferred to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The NSCDC shall be evaluated and reformed to be better integrated with our internal security apparatus.”
His government, h said would implement measures to eliminate attacks on vital national infrastructure, saying this would be known as Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Plan, adding that integral to this effort would be the deployment of modern technologies, tools and equipment to end crude oil theft, prevent vandalization of national assets, and reduce, to the barest minimum, environmental pollution of the Niger Delta.
Job creation
He further promised that his administration will provide sufficient jobs with decent wages; revive manufacturing industries, generate, transmit and distribute sufficient and affordable electricity; manufacture, produce and market good quantities of the essential goods and services; export more and import less to strengthen the Naira; make food available and affordable; modernise and expand public infrastructure.
“Manufacture, produce and market increased quantities of the essential goods and services we require. Nigeria shall be known as a nation of creators, not just consumers.
Export more and import less in order to earn more foreign exchange and strengthen the Naira.
“Deliver food security and affordability by continuing to prioritise agriculture and assist farmers and other players in the agricultural value chain through enlightened policies that promote productivity and guarantee robust incomes. Modernise and expand public infrastructure to stimulate economic growth at an optimal rate,” among others.