By Recently, the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki has appealed to Nigerians not to lose confidence in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. While addressing reporters in Ilorin, Kwara State, the Senate President urged citizens to come together and support the government. He explained that the government needs moral support and can’t do it alone
He further said that with the support of Nigerians, the country would soon overcome its challenges. According to Saraki:
“My message is for us to live in peace and unity. I know that we will continue to make sacrifices; and we should be hopeful that the country will get better.”
Nigerians believed that Saraki’s words came as a result of President Buhari’s claim in an Easter message to Christians on Saturday, April 15, where he stated that his administration had worked hard in the last two years to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
As part of his successes, the president has boosted security in the North-East, as well as sustain a campaign against corruption in the nation.
He has also implemented the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which has provided greater visibility for government revenues and cash flows. Between June 2015 and April 2016, the Federal Government TSA collection clocked N3 trillion. To further instill fiscal discipline, President Buhari directed the closure of all multiple accounts in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, thereby plugging loopholes for leakages with new technology. The opaque accounting structure of the NNPC has also been reconstructed to be more transparent with the closure of more than 40 accounts. As a corporate entity, NNPC is now accountable and more transparent in operations, publishing its monthly financial reports.
Before the inauguration, the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries are back in operation with 60 per cent capacity and producing seven million litres of PMS daily. The Kaduna refinery also resumed production at the end of the April, 2016. Buhari has also resolved the lingering shadowy oil swap deals that had cost the country billions of dollars and left it at the mercy of a few rich Nigerians.
To alleviate the suffering of Nigerians in September 2015, President Buhari directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to disburse N689.5 billion as bailout to 27 states of the federation to pay salaries. Equally, to stimulate the economy and reduce poverty, in April 2016, Buhari approved deferment in the payment of the bailout as states were still reeling under the burden of the fall in commodity prices.
Also, records of more than 34,000 ghost workers draining the nation’s resources were expunged from the Federal Civil Service, saving N2.29 billion monthly.
“We should be hopeful that we will attain our promises with time. We just have to stay focused and determined and shoudfld not get distracted. I’m sure at the end of the day we will get there. But the most important thing is that there must be unity and peace and we must be able to come together and support the government to be able to do our best. People should not give up; they should be rest assured that all is going to be well.”Saraki stated.
Nigeria is gradually slipping out of recession. Nigerians should be hopeful and prayerful as the best is yet to come. However, the government can not do it alone. For growth to be sustained, Nigerians would have to support and cooperate with their government in policies execution.