In order to make the country normal
again to make for a smooth rebuilding process, president-elect
Muhammadu Buhari will need N4.1 trillion, equivalent of a year’s budget.
According to the National Chairman of
the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, the money will
enable Buhari to offset outstanding salaries of workers at the federal
and state levels, service debts incurred by the outgoing administration
and also offset petrol subsidy payments already imported.
Oyegun said this during a two-day
retreat for APC senators-elect in Abuja on Saturday. He lamented the
state of the economy and urged Nigerians to show understanding since the
expected change would not happen overnight.
“Make no mistake about it, the days
ahead will be tough, and this is not crying wolf. From the first day of
this government, a total of N4.1 trillion will be required for sundry
expenses, including oil subsidy payment, arrears of salaries at federal
and state levels and debt servicing, just to mention a few, ” Oyegun
said.
He, however, assured Nigerians that with an APC government, things would surely get better.
“Bold decisions will need to be taken,
and this can only be possible if there is a synergy among our party, the
National Assembly and the President. We know you will not fail us, and
you will not fail Nigerians,” he said.
“Put this against the background of the
falling oil prices, the unprecedented $60-billion debt which the
outgoing government has left for the incoming one, the largely depleted
Excess Crude Account (ECA), the $60 billion that have been lost in the
last four years to crude oil theft (and which are perhaps still being
lost as we speak), the need to rapidly create jobs for our teeming army
of unemployed youths, enhance the security of the citizenry and improve
the economy, and you will begin to understand the enormity of the
challenges ahead.
“This is not a lamentation forum, but
still, we must tell ourselves the truth about the state of the nation,
and the expectations of our people.
“In fact, to a number of our
compatriots, by May 30, a day after the swearing in of our
president-elect, all the streets in Nigeria will be air conditioned
while electricity will become stable and fuel scarcity will be a thing
of the past.
“You, our senators-elect, will be called
upon to take extraordinary actions to address the extraordinary
challenges that confront our nation.
“The incoming president, more than
anyone else, needs the support and cooperation of the Eighth national
assembly to fulfil his campaign promises to Nigerians.
“You may be required to pass important
bills at very short notices. This will not be unprecedented but will
require a buy-in to the programmes of the president and the party and
willingness to work with him and the party for the benefit of all
Nigerians. The demands on you will be tasking, but you are up to the
task!
“Fortunately we have the numbers, even
though we believe that a bipartisan effort – to which we are open – will
be a better deal. And there is good news! You, our Senators-elect,
share in the dreams of the President and our party to make our country
great again.
“May I also remind you that all eyes
will be on our party – and by extension on all of you – to see if our
government will walk its talk in terms of running a lean and effective
government, one that eschews waste, corruption and indiscipline, and one
that will harness the nation’s human, material and natural resources
for the well being of the people,” Oyegun said.
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