Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Francis Ugwu
Published on 2024-02-13 20:59:14
The Federal Government has called upon governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to provide an explanation to Nigerians regarding how they have utilized increased allocations for the benefit of their people. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government emphasized that the nation’s economy remains strong and is capable of meeting financial obligations to both domestic and international lenders.
The Minister of Information & National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, affirmed that the government is functioning effectively and is able to fulfill all financial responsibilities while maintaining a healthy trade balance with global trading partners. This response was prompted by a statement from the PDP governors, urging the federal government to address the deteriorating economic hardship in the country.
The PDP governors attributed the current hardships in Nigeria to economic and security challenges, urging the federal government to take urgent initiatives and collaborate with sub-national governments to find lasting solutions to these crises. In response to these sentiments, the federal government welcomed their call for a bipartisan approach but criticized the PDP governors for not conducting themselves appropriately as leaders and members of important constitutional organs of government.
Idris accused the PDP governors of mischievously comparing the nation’s economic challenges to those of Venezuela and of manipulating facts to misinform the public about the true state of affairs in the country. While acknowledging the right of opposition politicians to play their part in politics, Idris stressed that it should be done within the confines of truth and fidelity to facts.
He highlighted the obligation of the PDP governors to explain how they have utilized the increased revenue to improve the lives of Nigerians in their respective states, pointing out that several PDP-controlled states owe workers and pensioners months of unpaid salary and pension arrears. The statement also brought to attention the failure of many PDP governors to pay the N30,000 minimum wage to their workers, further contributing to economic pressure faced by their citizens.
The federal government urged the PDP governors to fulfill their obligations to workers, pensioners, and local contractors, emphasizing that these efforts would have a positive multiplier effect on the economy. Furthermore, the government expressed disappointment in the PDP governors for talking about rising costs of living and food while not making substantial efforts to increase food production in their states.
The response from the federal government serves as a direct challenge to the PDP governors, holding them accountable for their responsibilities and calling them out for their failure to adequately address the economic and financial well-being of Nigerians in their respective states. The ongoing dialogue between the two political entities highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in governance, and the necessity for collaboration in finding sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the nation.
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