Post-COVID-19: What President Buhari is Doing and Will Do – Presidency
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Presidency on Thursday released a checklist of some measures that President Muhammadu Buhari has taken, and will further take, to make life abundant for Nigerians.
It noted that there is global anxiety on what the future holds for humanity post-COVID-19, particularly in respect of the economy, healthcare, job security, and general wellbeing, saying that naturally, Nigerians are not immune from the disquietude, as they belong to the global community.
A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr Femi Adesina said the list should assuage some apprehensions
Adesina said that the list include an economic team, headed by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning set up to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the economy.
He also said that there is an Economic Sustainability Committee headed by the Vice President to define a post-COVID-19 economy for Nigeria and also a Task force set up on free movement of farm produce headed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The Presidency also said that plans afoot to tackle weak health systems and infrastructure through establishment of standard laboratories, intensive care units, and isolation centres in all states of the Federation.
According to the Presidency; “The health infrastructure will eventually be recalibrated for the good of the people, and in readiness for future emergencies.
”As long term measure, emphasis will be placed on integrating local content in proven researches in cure, and production of materials in the heath sector.
”A Fiscal Sustainability Plan to complement the suite of monetary and banking interventions recently announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“A mass agricultural programme to be put in place, major rural road construction programme, mass housing programme, large scale installation of residential solar systems, utilizing mainly local materials and expansion of the Social Investment Programme.”
Others, according to Adesina include; “The 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Budget 2020 assumptions and targets that have already been revised.”
The list also include the time-sensitive expenditures are to be prioritized over less critical spending just as the extant financial controls are to be strengthened to detect, eliminate and sanction instances of waste, funds misappropriation and corruption.
