The Buhari System!!!
It’s been over a 100 days and Nigeria has seen great changes in the country in all sectors of the country some may say it’s never enough. I agree it’s not enough but it has not ended its just a 100 days plus out of over 1200 days of ruler-ship give the man a break.
The wind of change as the APC representative is cleaning up books and in cleaning books the economy is always under scrutiny. Has his tactics been working? That’s for you to judge I will only like to enlighten you as a Nigerian who loves his country.
So we start from when he was in power setting up Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) where the country was able to use its funds to set up a lot of its current infrastructure still in use, the country as a whole benefited under his leadership though his vice was known more Buhari was the silent operative, this added his work has he was less under scrutiny having more time to work.
Nigerians who were born during that time still say those days graduating from university a job and a car was guaranteed more so Nigeria’s now lowest currency Five Naira (=N= 5) was good enough to make you a good soup (NO EXAJURATIONS). The honest enthusiasm of Buhari in coming back to try and to rule after being forced off through a coup some say is warranted as he wants a better Nigeria. Is he a true Nigeria seeking change or a man still craving leadership power?
A hundred days and over 10 different improvement/improving situations already noted in Nigeria. I will take you through them in bullet point form;
The Battle against Corruption: We all know Nigeria is always ranked as one of the most corrupt. Still baffling that with all the potential and untapped resources ensuring a lot can go round yet it’s safe to say our greed gets the best of our leaders. The president visited Obama not only for assistance fighting insurgence, furthering and strengthening our relationship between countries but to recover $150 billion dollars looted. Recovery of monies looted by past leaders in previous dispensation is in continuance, it is from this recovered loot President Buhari has been using to support the income being generated by the government. Not to down play his increased support to anti-corruption agencies to enhance the fight against corruption.
The Recover of the Power Sector: The joy across the face of Nigeria is major because now they have a chance to see what it feels like to have development in the power sector. Billions of Dollars have been spent over the years to generate power and all companies involved have only been able to make few 100 kilo watts increase, while the same money was spent in china and they generated over 20,000 kilo watts of electricity to increase the power being generated. This sad story has aided other parties who sell alternative power such as solar systems, inverters and generators make profits. We have two generators it was normal to buy 20 litres of fuel minimum weekly now it has changed if not because its rainy season and poles falls transformers are damaged we don’t buy up to 10 litres of fuel. Amazing change now Nigerians can sleep well at night, Noise pollution is on the decrease security safety on the increase in just 100 days amazing.
The Corrections of Nigeria’s no 1 sector oil and gas: the stop of what we all agree as unsanctioned corruption in the biggest sector of Nigeria the oil and gas sector has begun recovering over $900 million from the X minister of petroleum, to revamping of the refinery and a stop to oil subsidy payments and importation of fuel which can be generated locally all this changes has made fuel supply optimal and in excess in Nigeria analyst believe if this continues as the power sector keeps improving it will lead to a fall in prices of petroleum products. A thing all Nigerians are looking forward to.
NNPC Revamp and Reshape: the regulatory body and organisation handling the affairs of the oil and has had an overhaul bring much desired benefits to the economy, recovering over $9 billion dollars within just over 100 days lost to unpaid tax and levies by companies, it makes you wonder why this moneys were not collected well envelopes exchange can be said as one of the reasons. It is safe to say the President who was once the minister of petroleum knows the sector well and is using his knowledge to good use knowing where funds are being lost and can be pulled from. I expect more change of the sector to regularise its activities and increase government Gross Domestic Income.
Strict Rule Extended to his Lieutenant the Governors and other parties involved in government leadership: after having series of meeting with government officials elected and appointed on what he expects to see in his government a clear message he sent as he took his time in bailing out sectors of government and states scrutinizing accounts before putting his signature to any bail out relief from his government. States which have not received this bail out are states still being audited by the government. This is a no excesses allowed regime.
New policies to ensure growth: As an economist by academic training I’ve always had a keen eye and soft spot for leaders who have economic vision, our president is one of such leaders his new government policies on importation on certain goods, Inland Revenue scheme and our limitation on foreign policy expenditure are all fiscal policies which will bring vibrant growth. We may not see it now as demand for foreign exchange is high and the dollar rose due to its use in paying for fees of those schooling outside the country. This rise is only temporary, regardless if the economy generates internal finances dependency on oil will reduce and therefore adequate growth in all sectors of the economy can be seen and properly adhered to. Investors will always be interested in Nigeria as our potential reaches the corners of the continent and beyond for this reason those bans will raise local investors and foreign likewise to tap into the vacancy create.
The Fight Against Boko-Haram: We the Nigerian people have been affected greatly by the menace BOKO-HARAM whether directly or indirectly, so as we see the fight against them intensifying not being fought only by the military but by all law enforcements agencies as arrest are being made of members who are escaping to other parts of the country feeling the tightened grip of the new dispensation. If not because of civil right issues I say they should be shot instantly for the lives which they took and loses those affected dealt with but I’m just one man. The military actions during this fight also has been checked new council to address the issue created and corrupt leaders who plundered the situation for their own selfish gains accosted, the military base shift is a positive one and the police aiding by deploying men to fill in the gap some say yes some say no, I say hell yeah as arrest in Lagos and environs of BOKO-HARAM suspect are reported daily a thumbs up to Buhari.
New policies guiding Civil Service: As a man who grew up with family members being in the civil service remembering good old days when the Nigerian Civil Service job was prestigious its saddens me to see how laid back the workers are now. They attend to job of ensuring the smooth running of the country without patriotism, corrupt mind-set and majorly no enthusiasm to work only to earn money. Files gather dust non-appearance, ghost workers and many more ills. The civil service revamp is one that I say we are in dire need of, I feel if the bad eggs cannot be totally eradicated but if the structure takes a different shape the people will follow suit too.
His stance to not involve himself in politics around him removing political immunity as much as possible: Our president has not been partisan in his administration as he said in his inaugural speech “I am for every one and for no one” he has been true to these sayings. Not interfering in the APC senatorial crisis and any other crisis such as election disputes. Influencing not INEC or the judiciary in granting judgement. He has probed party members who were found corrupt and guilty of wrong, recently he debunked diplomatic rights of ex-government officials of all parties and post removing diplomatic immunity leaving them able to be probed which countries like china d enabling them to send their corrupt officials to prison when found guilty. The shout against this is found on newspapers as corrupt leaders are looking for where to hide from the magnifying lens of our president.
The reduction of excesses which previous government encouraged: The previous governments showed us how flamboyant Nigerians could be fleets of cars, Houses, Planes and trips intermittently non-stop. Buhari on entering power sold all 6 presidential jets leaving just one the offices of the senate president and speaker were limited to one planes they will be funding the expense of that plane not the government this sent a strong jolt throughout the system that this regime is not a fattening one. His none appointing of Ministers is a smart one synchronising all governments’ funds into one account so expenses can be monitored making accountability more effective. Without the ministers Buhari has an idea how government establishment operate now so when he appoints he has a bench mark to which each ministry will go by and he can scrutinize efficiently.
Is Buhari the best person to lead Nigeria to the glory days? Is there more to come? Well my conclusion is simple in light of these questions a man who has spent just about a hundred plus days in power and so much changes have occurred you will be stupid or just plain ignorant and have a strong case of tribalism to say the previous government did better, I am not disputing the fact that they also had good policies especially for the SME’s, the agricultural sector and road rehabilitation program but the excesses outweighed the good. It is right we clamoured for change which we are seeing it now as a people we have a bench mark to judge other leaders.
Is Buhari the best? I don’t know. Will there be another better? I don’t know. But Buhari has stirred us upon the path of righteousness and has shown us the way to see how a government should be run and guided. I strongly believe there is more to come, not only from him but from all of us as we key into this change and in doing so Nigeria our country which we pledge our allegiance to will become great again.
