2020: Artisans, drivers, civil servants, others set agenda for Buhari, govs

As  year 2020 commenced today, Nigerians across many divides have asked President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government, governors of the 36 states of the federation and local government chairmen to prioritise the people’s welfare by improving the economy, ensuring rules of law, improved security and  adequate fixing of the roads across the country .

A cross-section of Nigerians, ranging from artisans, traders, civil servants and others from various sectors, who responded to  Blueprint’s post on facebook  on their expectations of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, urged the administration to remain focussed and avoid  playing politics with programmes and policies.

A staff of Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Lubem Gena, urged the federal government to come to the rescue of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in 2020.

“I expect the government to come to the rescue of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). They are the engine of growth of the African economy. They employ more than the government and as such deserve every form of supports in order to deepen the economic growth of the nation. The model to be used should be Finance Leasing which derisks loans.”

For Nasiru Sulaiman, a Sokoto-based journalist, the issues of security should be handled with all seriousness, same goes for the citizens’ welfare. 

“It is imperative to have a good electoral laws and process. The government should kick start the process of reviewing the Electoral Act to capture electronic voting and ensure the card reader is recognised by the law. Blame game should stop and government should be more responsive to the plight of the citizenry and take responsibility for failure and success of all its actions and inactions.”

Also, a Lagos-based Information Technology (IT) expert, Owolabi Owotunmibi said  the federal government should dive fully into the evolution of disruptive technology changing the status quo of global economy as projected by Jack Ma, who visited Nigeria a couple of months ago.

“Federal government needs to launch fully into e-governance, e-entrepreneur, e-education and e-infrastructure by getting the digital brains into the system rather than the analogue brains taking us one step forward and five steps backward. This will dramatically take Nigeria out her authoritarian and monolithic economic system.”

In his response, an Abuja-based media entrepreneur, Samuel Torlumum, urged President Buhari to ensure judicious implementation of the 2020 budget. 

“Strict adherent to capital projects designated in the budget will reposition or uplift good governance. Already, the early signing of the budget is a step in the right direction. Now, its time for the government to take advantage of it. Getting it right in terms of budget implementation will also boost our already weak economy.”

On the issue of alleged nepotism by the current administration, an Abuja-based political analyst and journalist, Bode Gbadebo, said: “Nepotism in federal appointments should stop. Federal character law should be obeyed to the letter in order to foster unity among Nigerians.”

While some other respondents said they were not expecting anything from the current administration for fair of disappointment, an Okeho-born social crusader in Oyo state, Hon. Kunle Ogundokun, urged the federal government to stop being selective in her fight against corruption.

Buttressing what Ogundokun said, a Kaduna state-based journalist, Ojo Shola, also called on federal government and all its operators to stop blame games and also forget about the controversial hate speech planned law. 

“Federal government should make sure Nigerians can travel from one state to the other on good roads and guaranteed security of lives and property. All the ministries, agencies and parastatals of government should go digital, so many heads of these MDAs do not have the skills to manipulate their mobile devices to get a lot of work done unless they get to their desktop or laptop. Above all, Mr. President and his cabinet must fear God in their dealings with Nigerians no matter the status.”

Katsina

Some respondents who spoke to Blueprint in Katsina, Katsina state, expressed high hope in the areas of security improvement, economic growth, poverty eradication, education and justice, particularly for the masses.

In his response, Malam Sadik Kallah, a civil servant, believed the New Year   would witness lots of improvement, particularly with the new educational institutions established by the Buhari administration.

 “With the establishment of a University of Transportation in Katsina and Port Harcourt, as well as new Federal Polytechnic across the country, this indicates the readiness of the federal government to bring education to the doors of the masses.” 

In his response, Comrade Sani Ahmed Fago, said there were strong indications that judiciary would be fully independent with the recent release of Colonel Sambo Dasuki and Sowore by the security agents.

Borno

Speaking to one of our correspondents in Maiduguri, Borno state, some artisans called on the governor, Professor Babagana Zulumto fulfil his campaign promises on   roads, hospitals, clinics, schools and water supply sources destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.

Mauna Kolo, a mechanic at Leventis area, said the governor should embark on “drilling of boreholes, construction of feeder roads to villages and towns to link the rural areas and population with cities or urban areas and markets or commercial areas to boost socio-economic activities.”

For Abdulmalik Abdulmuttallab, a welder/panel beater, the governor “should support us- the poor and helpless artisans and craftsmen-to boost our occupations as things are hard today and hardly one gets anybody to assist him or her.”

Also, an IDP residing in London Ciki area, Goni Bukar Masa said:”We expect Governor Zulum to concentrate on the welfare of the rural people and IDPs.

“We also expect him to relocate us back to our ancestral homes to continue our normal life, especially farming and fishing which have been our major occupations. We cannot continue to live in this condition for life,” Goni said. 

Amos Balami, a civil servant said: “I expect the governor, with the size of the 2020 budget  of over N140 billion and  the increase in the budget proposal by the BOSHA,  to concentrate on reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools, houses  and hospitals destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents in almost all the towns and villages of the state.”

Kano

From Kano, the capital city of Kano state, Blueprint reports that artisans, motorists, commuters and civil servants called on government at all levels to expedite action on ameliorating the “appalling economic situation in the country.”

Some respondents painted a grim picture of their living condition as regards the provision of the most basic essential amenities, in the face of what they unanimously described as biting fangs of hyper inflation.

A civil servant, Malam Shehu Panda said, his major expectation for the New Year is for the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to commence the implementation of the much pronounced minimum wage of N30, 000.00 which the governor earlier promised.

He said, implementing the new minimum wage would make life more bearable for civil servants.

Similarly, some commuters and motorists who spoke on their expectations, called on the federal government to effect a downward review of the price of petroleum products by considerable margin, in addition to effecting a blanket implementation of the year 2020 fiscal policies.

This, they said, would bring about an improved standard of living for Nigerians.

Gombe

On his expectations, Mr. Abdul Usman, a welder in Gombe, capital of Gombe state, urged the state government to put in more efforts in boosting power supply in the state to encourage small scale businesses.

“I am sure when the Dadin Kowa Dam is commissioned; it will really help in addressing the power challenges in the state.

“We really had issues of power supply in 2019 and many of us cannot afford the bigger generators to power our businesses. That’s why we want more to be done in that regard  to encourage us to keep the youths who are learning and are being paid under me.”

In his opinion, Mr John Bitrus, a civil servant, said: “I also expect to see a turnaround in the issue of workers’ welfare, especially the new minimum wage. Since the federal government has started paying theirs.”

Ondo

And speaking in Akure, Ondo state, the secretary of the state chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Adeleke Adegbite, described the year ended as one with a lot of mix-grills for the generality of Nigerians.

He said, there were lots of expectations and yearnings that he believed government- at local, state and federal levels should take as priority, which he emphasised as ways at improving the economic base of the nation and her security.

With the recent closure of the country’s border, the present administration should strive  at consolidating on that by giving impetus to reviving the agricultural sector.

He also said, come year 2020, government should address issue of epileptic power supply by the various Discos’ in the country, and given to capable contractors that can deliver and give the country stable power supply, which ultimately would get millions of Nigerians youth roaming about, gainfully employed.

Also, a mother and business woman, Mrs. Aduke Omotosho, asked the government to quickly look into issue of the economy, which, she said , was at the verge of collapse.

She further said the common man on the streets found it difficult to have two (2) meals on the table every day.

Zamfara

And from Gusau, Zamafar state, a veteran journalist, Mr. Faruk Ifeanyi Chukwu Nwannah described 2020 as a year of peace, harmony, hope and transformation.

“I want to call on government at all levels in Nigeria to look inward in addressing the security challenge we have faced in the last one decade, because to me, no meaningful transformation both socially, economically and politically could be achieved in any given country where its citizens are living in abject poverty and are not fully secured and protected by the government of that particular country,” he said.

Also, in his own agenda setting, an artisan, Mr. Rudwan Abubakar Gusau, asked government to encourage local production and improve the capacity of engineers and other artisans for the enhancement of the country’s socio-economic potentials.

Also in his expectations, a civil servant, Aminu Abubakar Mayanchi, urged the three tiers of government to to fulfil the lingering problem of minimum wage to civil servants and also  pay the arrears.

“My hope from federal, 36 States and 774 local governments is to improve welfare of civil servants, develop agriculture and improve security,” Mayanchi said.

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