Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigerians should be assured that President Bola Tinubu is working for the overall good of all citizens with the current critical reforms in the country.
He said, despite misgivings in certain quarters, the Tinubu-led administration is engaging directly with Nigerians through inclusive reforms, rather than the perception of governing from a distance.
According to the Vice President, the administration will continue to prioritise empathy, dialogue, and public input in policy-making for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Also lending a voice to Vice President Shettima’s assurances, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, assured Nigerians that the administration is committed to ensuring equitable development across all regions of the country, with no area left behind.
These assurances are coming on the heels of concerns expressed by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) over the alleged marginalisation of Northern Nigeria in federal budget allocations and infrastructure development under the present administration.
North Sidelined By Tinubu – ACF Kicks
Raising the concerns at a two-day citizen engagement forum organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Kaduna on Tuesday, the Chairman of ACF Board of Trustees and Wazirin Dutse, Alhaji Bashir M. Dalhatu, claimed that the region has been sidelined in critical policy decisions and project implementation.
He said the unfortunate development was amid what the ACF called the Region’s significant electoral support for the President in the 2023 general elections.
Presidency Rejects Claims, Cites Citizens’ Engagement
But Vice President Shettima, who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on General Duties, Dr. Aliyu Umar Moddibo, said citizens’ engagement is being prioritized in policymaking by the government, even as he listed some reforms that have been driven and shaped by citizens’ feedback
He said these include the repeal and re-enactment of the student loan law to remove income and guarantor barriers, as well as the suspension of unpopular taxes like the 10 percent single-use plastic levy and telecom tax after stakeholders’ consultations.
Referencing the fuel subsidy removal, Vice President Shettima said the government responded to hardship with palliatives, wage increases, and tax waivers for Nigerians.
Also stressing that the administration “met labour unions not with threats but with empathy”, the Vice President said the Tinubu administration is focused on listening and learning from all stakeholders.
He assured that the government would not relent in working hard to make the country better, stressing that, “Governance is not a theatre of perfection but a process of correction”.
No Region Will Be Left Behind – Akume
Aligning with the Vice President’s position, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, who spoke on the Tinubu administration’s achievements under the Renewed Hope Agenda, outlined key interventions across various sectors, including economic reforms, education, health, security, infrastructure, and food security.
He said the administration’s economic reforms have seen bold implementation of initiatives to stabilise and grow the economy, such as the unification of exchange rates and restructuring of the country’s debt profile.
Further noting that significant investments have been made in modernising security equipment and enhancing the skills of personnel, Senator Akume cited major infrastructure projects as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, the ongoing Kano–Maradi and Port Harcourt–Maiduguri rail lines, among several housing initiatives.
The SGF, who led a federal government delegation, consisting of Ministers, Heads of agencies, and senior presidential aides to the event, said the Renewed Hope Agenda focuses on economic reform for sustained growth, improved national security, agricultural transformation for food security, enhancing infrastructure and transportation, as well as unlocking energy and natural resources.
According to him, other areas of priority include education, health, social investment, industrialisation, innovation, and strengthening governance for effective service delivery.
Specifically on the economic hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, Senator Akume said, “The removal of fuel subsidy, though painful, was a necessary reform that has saved trillions of naira. Through the Palliative Measures Plan and support via state governments, MSME grants, and public transport upgrades, the government is mitigating the impact.
“The savings are being redirected toward critical infrastructure and human capital development, with states receiving increased allocations.”
Also explaining that the Renewed Hope Agenda is more than a campaign slogan, the SGF described is as a pragmatic vision built on pillars of good governance such as transparency, accountability, responsiveness, equity, rule of law, and inclusivity.
Hear him, “The administration’s economic strategy is designed to create a robust, diversified, and resilient economy. By fostering investment and innovation, we aim to stimulate growth across all sectors, reduce unemployment, and ensure equitable distribution of wealth”.
Addressing issues around security, Senator Akume said, “It is the bedrock of development”, adding that, “The government is focused on enhancing the capacity of security forces, promoting peace, and ensuring that every Nigerian feels safe, no matter their location.”
With the theme, “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizens’ Engagement for National Unity,” the forum had in attendance State governors, Ministers, top federal government functionaries, lawmakers, both federal and state, traditional rulers, as well as civil society organisations.
