What Nigerians Expect From Tinubu’s Government -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has resumed office on 29 May, 2023. He was sworn in by the chief judge of the federation having won the February 25 presidential election in which he emerged victorious. With the oath of office administered to him,he has become the legally elected president and will spend the next four years in office as specified by 1999 constitution . Though,since the time he emerged as the flag bearer of his party, APC, president Ahmed Bola Tinubu,had encountered many challenges coming from fifth columnist or his adversaries who were hell-bent to stop him from actualising his life ambition. At last,he escaped the booby trap placed on his road and emerged the president of the most populous black African country. The 2023 elections, like any other elections conducted were charasterised by prophesy of doom. If not the threat emanated from ravaging insecurity bedeviled the country,then the report of plot to foist interim national government by cabals as reported by DSS and other government officials. Now, elections are over and it is time for governance.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s speech after inauguration is inspiring and has set the tone for better nigeria. However, speeches did not make good governance. We have history of many elected presidents with beautiful speeches but failed to match their words with actions after they settled in offices.

Immediately Tinubu became the president-elect,many experts drawn from various field of human development set agenda for him. It is unarguably to say, the administration of Bola Tinubu will inherit baggage of challenges from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari. While experts drawn from various sectors have advised the new government on how to sail through the mountains of difficulties awaiting it, the onus lies on how the president shop and assemble his cabinets. For instance, it took the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, six months to form his cabinets. Despite this lengthy time, Buhari’s ministers fall short of expectations. Will president Bola Ahmed Tinubu toes this trajectory and discouraging line?

Before his inauguration on May 29, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, promised to form his cabinets on the basis of merit and competence. This is a good decision. For the country to make headway, it has to stop appointment based on nepotism. Competent people should be appointed to manage sensible ministries, agencies and parastatals for quick and accelerate development. But appointment should also be made to reflect the federal character. No region or states have the monopoly of competency. We have competent people across the 36 states. The president should strive to promote unity in his new appointment. The country has already been polarised along ethnic and religion fault lines.

His victory with a muslim vice has continued to generate mixed reactions in the country.

Therefore, he should see himself as unifier rather than do the opposite. For optimum performance, new ministers
should be given performances evaluation forms. Those who deliver should be celebrated and awarded. Ministers who perform abysmally should be sactioned and new ones re-appointed.

President Tinubu’s inaugural speech in which he emphasised the removal of petroleum subsidy has sparked panic in the country. It is reported that,queeve have returned to filling stations across the country. There is imminent fear of hoarding by petroleum marketers. Nobody can dispute the facts, petroleum subsidy is thorn in a flesh of any governments in power. The subsidy has gulped trillions of naira since the time it was introduced. The Buhari administration has mulled efforts to remove at its tail end. It, however, passed it to the Tinubu government. The subsidy is planned to end on june. Government has not made provision for it. The world Bank which is averse to it, has granted the loan of $800,000 to Nigeria government to pay palliatives to nigerians. With the Dangote refinery which was commissioned recently and expected to begin operation by July,the new government should not be in rush to withdraw subsidy. Let the refinery floods the country with adequate fuels to avoid scarcity of the commodity. President Bola Tinubu should privitise or fix our four moribund refineries. Although, NNPC has become a limited liability company (LLC),we are yet to see its profit like Saudi (Aranco) which posted billions of dollars as profit every year. It is high time these refineries which gulped billions of naira for their turn around maitainance annually are disposed.

Nigerians are expecting the new government to tackle the intractable insecurity which disturbs the country’s peace and stability. Bandiry, IPOB’s violence activities and kidnapping-for- ransom have become a threat to the country’s survival. President Tinubu should adopt carrot and stick approach of resolving the security longjam. Governments should sitdown with those who have geinune grievance, persuade them to lay their arms. Criminals whose motives are to kill and extort ordinary nigerians should be made to face music or be eliminated.

The Tinubu government should overhaul our security architectures. It needs to recruit more security personnel and deploy technology gadgets for effective policing. Our University education has defied lasting solution. Nigerians pray that the new government will bring lecturers and students to classes. The incessant strikes have paralyzed the education sector and forced many students to engage in crimes. Let the governments addresses the problem of universities education once and for all.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state. 08169056963.