Over the last 14 days, Pres. Bola Tinubu has won for himself more followers. Many who didn’t support him before the May 29 inauguration day have now become big converts of Pres. Tinubu.
In many private discussions these days, people now openly confess to how pleasantly surprised they are at how the President has achieved a lot within so short a time. They command his boldness and clear focus in pursing things he told Nigerians he will do if he is voted in. It was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s early achievements as President that has won him great admiration. The first is the subsidy removal and scrapping of the Petroleum Equalisation office, Goal of single exchange rate, peaceful Labour relations, effective opening of closed borders, appreciation of the value of the naira against international currency, early co-operation from European Union & BRIC nations and the fact that he is highly skewed towards the youth and women engagement in governance.
According to one analyst all these show that this man is prepared to lead. Another analyst revealed other moves, Tinubu has made.
In just 14 days Tinubu has done the following: (1) Upholding the removal of fuel subsidy (2) Meeting with service chiefs (3) Appointment of SGF (4) Meeting with all progressive governors (5) Meeting with 36 state governors (6) Extends his closing time to 8pm daily (7) Meeting with NLC & TUC officials twice (8) Got the NCL & TUC to call off their proposed strike (9) Meet with G5 Governor (10) Met Femi Falana over subsidy and other issues (11) Met with all Yoruba Obas (12) Met with all the 1st class traditional rulers in Nigeria over security isses (13) Met group MD of NNPC and CBN Governor (14) Met with the petroleum independent markets (15) Deregulation of fuel importation (16) Signs 2 important drafted laws (17) Abrogated crude Oil swap (18) Made fuel queues and hording disappear overnight (19) Technically abolished the fuel black market (20) Insistence on a single official exchange rate (21) Ordered FEC to begin discussion on minimum wage (22) Stopped fuel smuggling to neighbouring countries and many more in the first 10 days (23) Appointed a Chief of Staff (24) Met all the new NASS members-elect (25) Met Plateau State Governor over security challenges (26) Suspended the CBN Governor.
It was on the day of his inauguration that he clearly told Nigerians his plans.
“Our mission is to improve our way of life in a manner that nurtures our humanity, encourages compassion toward one another, and duly rewards our collective effort to resolve the social ills that seek to divide us.”
“Our Constitution and laws give us a nation on paper. We must work harder at bringing these noble documents to life by strengthening the bonds of economic collaboration, social cohesion, and cultural understanding. Let us develop a shared sense of fairness and equity.
The South must not only seek good for itself but must understand that its interests are served when good comes to the North. The North must see the South likewise.
Whether from the winding creeks of the Niger Delta, the vastness of the northern savannah, the boardrooms of Lagos, the bustling capital of Abuja, or the busy markets of Onitsha, you are all my people. As your president, I shall serve with prejudice toward none but compassion and amity towards all.
In the coming days and weeks, my team will publicly detail key aspects of our programme. Today, permit me to outline in broad terms a few initiatives that define our concept of progressive good governance in furtherance of the Nigerian ideal:
The principles that will guide our administration are simple: (1.) Nigeria will be impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law. (2.) We shall defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country and our subregion. (3.) We shall remodel our economy to bring about growth and development through job creation, food security and an end of extreme poverty. (4.) In our administration, Women and youth will feature prominently. (5.) Our government will continue to take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies.
Security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.
To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security DOCTRINE and its ARCHITECTURE.
We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide, better training, equipment, pay and firepower.
On the economy, we target a higher GDP growth and to significantly reduce unemployment.
We intend to accomplish this by taking the following steps:
First, budgetary reform stimulating the economy without engendering inflation will be instituted.
Second, industrial policy will utilize the full range of fiscal measures to promote domestic manufacturing and lessen import dependency.
Third, electricity will become more accessible and affordable to businesses and homes alike. Power generation should nearly double and transmission and distribution networks improved. We will encourage states to develop local sources as well.
I have a message for our investors, local and foreign: our government shall review all their complaints about multiple taxation and various anti-investment inhibitions.
We shall ensure that investors and foreign businesses repatriate their hard earned dividends and profits home.
My administration must create meaningful opportunities for our youth. We shall honour our campaign commitment of one million new jobs in the digital economy.
Our government also shall work with the National Assembly to fashion an omnibus Jobs and Prosperity bill. This bill will give our administration the policy space to embark on labour-intensive infrastructural improvements, encourage light industry and provide improved social services for the poor, elderly and vulnerable.
Rural incomes shall be secured by commodity exchange boards guaranteeing minimal prices for certain crops and animal products. A nationwide programme for storage and other facilities to reduce spoilage and waste will be undertaken.
Agricultural hubs will be created throughout the nation to increase production and engage in value-added processing. The livestock sector will be introduced to best modern practices and steps taken to minimize the perennial conflict over land and water resources in this sector.
Through these actions, food shall be made more abundant yet less costly. Farmers shall earn more while the average Nigerian pays less.
We shall continue the efforts of the Buhari administration on infrastructure. Progress toward national networks of roads, rail and ports shall get priority attention.
We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor. Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.
Monetary policy needs thorough housecleaning. The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate. This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment and jobs that power the real economy.
Interest rates need to be reduced to increase investment and consumer purchasing in ways that sustain the economy at a higher level.
Whatever merits it had in concept, the currency swap was too harshly applied by the CBN given the number of unbanked Nigerians. The policy shall be reviewed. In the meantime, my administration will treat both currencies as legal tender.
