Tinubu administration replies PDP governors, says Nigeria’s economic system troubled however not like Venezuela

President Bola Tinubu’s administration on Tuesday mentioned the opposition’s comparability of Nigeria’s economic system with that of troubled Venezuela is unfair and inaccurate.

The Minister of Data, Mohammed Idris, mentioned that though the Nigerian economic system was going by way of challenges, evaluating it to that of Venezuela, by governors elected on the platform of the primary opposition social gathering, PDP, was unfair.

“We wish to state categorically that although our nation goes by way of some tough patches, that are being addressed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our state of affairs is nowhere close to what is going on in Venezuela,” Mr Idris wrote in an announcement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday.

“The Nigerian economic system continues to be very sturdy and is predicted to file a 3% GDP development this yr. The economic system is assembly monetary obligations to lenders at dwelling and overseas.

The PDP governors after their assembly on Monday lamented the financial and safety state of affairs throughout the nation and proffered some options such because the institution of state police to handle the safety challenges in lots of states.

“We welcome their name for a bipartisan method to fixing our nation’s financial and safety issues,” Mr Idris wrote earlier than accusing the PDP governors of contributing to the financial disaster.

Learn the complete assertion by the data minister under.

Governors elected on the Peoples’ Democratic Occasion (PDP) platform met yesterday in Abuja and addressed a press convention, the place their Chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed, learn out their place on the nation’s financial and safety state of affairs.

We welcome their name for a bipartisan method to fixing our nation’s financial and safety issues.

As vital stakeholders and leaders on the sub-national degree, the PDP governors definitely have the suitable to state their place on nationwide considerations as is predicted.

Nevertheless, as leaders within the nation who’re members of two necessary constitutional organs of presidency – the Nationwide Financial Council, which is the very best financial administration organ of the nation, and the Nationwide Council of States, we imagine the PDP governors didn’t conduct themselves in a way befitting their roles as leaders.

It’s far-fetched when PDP governors, who’re presupposed to be main gamers in driving financial development and prosperity for our residents of their respective states, mischievously and falsely examine our present financial challenges to Venezuela.

We wish to state categorically that although our nation goes by way of some tough patches, that are being addressed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our state of affairs is nowhere close to what is going on in Venezuela.

The Nigerian economic system continues to be very sturdy and is predicted to file a 3% GDP development this yr. The economic system is assembly monetary obligations to lenders at dwelling and overseas.

The Nigerian authorities is operating successfully, and our authorities will pay all its payments whereas sustaining a wholesome commerce steadiness with buying and selling companions worldwide.

Whereas opposition politicians are anticipated to play politics, it ought to be performed throughout the bounds of fact and constancy to info. It’s unconscionable of PDP Governors to control info and misinform Nigerians about our nation’s true state of affairs.

Since President Tinubu assumed workplace, the income obtainable to the three tiers of presidency has greater than doubled. All 36 States, together with the 774 Native Governments, have been receiving considerably bigger allocations on the again of the reforms being pursued by President Tinubu to reposition our nationwide economic system.

Nigerians ought to ask PDP Governors how far and the way effectively they’ve utilised the elevated income to higher the lives of Nigerians of their respective states.

It’s on file that the majority States managed by PDP owe employees and pensioners months of unpaid wage and pension arrears. The PDP Governors have defaulted in paying gratuities to their retired employees. Additionally it is a indisputable fact that most of the PDP Governors haven’t paid N30,000 minimal wage to their employees because it took impact greater than 4 years in the past. All of those anomalies of their states contribute considerably to the financial strain their residents face.

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If PDP governors are genuinely within the residing circumstances of Nigerians and aren’t simply stirring up disaffection and ill-will in the direction of the federal authorities, we urge them to fulfill their obligations to employees, pensioners, and native contractors and see the multiplier impact.

It’s disappointing that PDP Governors discuss rising prices of residing and meals after they haven’t performed a lot to extend meals manufacturing of their States. The land in Nigeria belongs to the States, not the Federal Authorities.

PDP Governors, of their communique yesterday, didn’t inform Nigerians how they’re supporting farmers of their states to spice up meals manufacturing – a duty that’s strictly inside their purview. As a substitute, they shift all of the blame to the Federal Authorities, whereas shirking their very own duties to the individuals they govern.

The All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Tinubu is working assiduously to handle the present challenges. The President is working along with his safety chiefs to get rid of all safety threats wherever they exist inside our borders, and we’re getting ends in the variety of terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers which have both been killed or arrested previously few weeks. The success of the efforts can also be mirrored within the over 700 kidnapped Nigerians who’ve been rescued from captivity.

The Central Financial institution is addressing the issue of volatility within the alternate fee, and we’re starting to see stability that can finally result in the naira gaining its precise worth towards the greenback and different convertible currencies.

We urge the PDP Governors to hitch their colleagues within the Nigerian Governors Discussion board, who’re collaborating with President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to revamp our economic system for Nigerians’ collective well-being.

Mohammed Idris
Minister of Data & Nationwide Orientation
February 13, 2024