Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Monday, said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has fulfilled its campaign promises to Nigerians despite dwindling revenue.
“I am happy that we are here today to prove that this government is not a government of propaganda; this is a real government that is dealing with the real people," the former APC's spokesman said.
Mohammed made the pronouncement at the Presentation of National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP) Report Card event to mark the 2nd Anniversary of President Buhari’s administration in Abuja.
The theme of the report card presentation was “Showcasing the Achievements of National Social Investment Programmes: A Smile for Every Nigerian. “
A check of the promises made by the APC during the campaign for the 2015 presidential election revealed that the government has not fulfilled all its promises as claimed by Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
10 of the unfulfilled promises are:
1. Provision of allowances to the discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members for Twelve (12) months while in the skills and entrepreneurial development programme
Unemployed corps members are still awaiting the fulfilment of this promise. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme has pass-out over 20,000 corps members since President Buhari assumed office.
2. 720,000 jobs by the 36 states in the federation per annum (20,000 per state)
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, in its unemployment report revealed that 3.67 million Nigerians became jobless in 2016 alone.
According to the Bureau, at least 18,919 Nigerians lost their public sector jobs of the federal, state and local governments between October 2015 and March 2016.
Within the same period, 11, 593 new public sector jobs were generated, putting employment generation figure in deficit.
In his Democracy Day’s speech, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said that the government has engaged 200,000 unemployed graduates through the N-Power scheme.
The promise was 20, 000 jobs per state, totaling 720, 000 jobs in a year.
3. Making our economy one of the fastest-growing emerging economies in the world with a real GDP growth averaging 10% annually.
Nigeria recorded quadruple negative GDP Growth in 2016, according to data provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). It was the first year round negative growth since 1987 (prior to rebasing).
The World Bank has projected 1% GDP growth for Nigeria in 2017, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected 0.8% for the same period. Both projections are pointers that Nigeria is exiting the current economic recession.
4. Eradication of state of origin, replacing that with state of residence to ensure Nigerians are Nigerians first, before anything else.
Two years into the administration of the APC-led government, no success has been recorded in this regard.
5. Ban on all government officials from seeking medical care abroad
The obvious. The president is in the United Kingdom attending to his health. According to media report, his Chief of staff and more than two ministers had sought medical treatment outside the shores of Nigeria, against the pronouncement banning same for government officials.
6. Implementation of the National Gender Policy, including 35% of appointive positions for women
There are only five female ministers, namely Khadija Abba Ibrahim, Minister of State Foreign Affairs; Hajia Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, the Minister of State Budget and National Planning; Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan, the Minister of Women Affairs; Aisha Abubakar, the Minister of State, Trade, Industry & Investment and Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance. This pattern is also reflected in other key appointments.
7. Generation, transmission and distribution of at least 20,000 MW of electricity within four years and increasing to 50,000 MW with a view to achieving 24/7 uninterrupted power supply within 10 years.
The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has denied the popular quote attributed to him that he could fix the problem of electricity in Nigeria within six months.
“I have heard that I said that electricity problem will be solved in six months. I have never made the statement. Anybody who has a video of where I said this should please make it public. The point I made was when I was handing over the Lekki IPP because we had about 10 megawatts of power there,” Fashola said during an interview on Nigerian Television Authority Network.
Nigeria has not achieved 5, 000 megawatts more than two years into the Buhari’s administration.
9. Making Information Technology, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Entertainment key drivers of our economy
The oil sector still remains the major driver of the economy. The 2017 budget is based on expected revenue from oil sales.
10. Establishing at least six new universities of science and technology with satellite campuses in various states.
Another unfulfilled promise by the APC-led government.
11. Ensuring timely payment of retirement benefits for all pensioned senior citizens and creating a poverty safety net for all aged citizens above the age of 65.
There are still report of unpaid pensions across the country. The promised safety net for all aged citizens above the age of 65 remains unfulfilled.
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