It’s now 14 months since The Buhari Government took over as the first non PDP democratically elected president since 1999.
The government that rode on change as its election mantra had lofty expectations from Nigerians and at the bearest minimum expected to see the so called change manifest in their life.
Unfortunately, all they’ve been subjected to is more poverty, a harsh economy, heightened militant activities, political turmoil and ethnic unrest. But the Buhari government will have none of that. Regardless of what Nigerians think, they believe we have experienced change.
In an uncanny confirmation that change is here, the Minister for Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed explained the success of this government in the most uncharacteristical manner.
First was that corruption is working
“Before now, public officials simply opened the public till, took as much money as they wanted and walked away without consequences.
“That explains why funds allocated to the military to fight Boko Haram ended up in the piggy banks of many unscrupulous Nigerians
“Today, all those who looted the public treasury are being made to answer for their actions, as impunity gives way to accountability.
“Many have offered to return their loots, and many more are facing charges,” he said.
TSA – this is not really a quote but news sources reported it this way
The minister said that with the introduction of the Treasury Single Account, funds meant for the Federal Government were directly paid in and used for development of infrastructure.
He noted that before now, funds accruing to the government were paid into so many accounts and went to private purses.
Mohammed said that the government had successfully identified and stopped salaries hitherto paid to more than 30,000 ghost workers.
That the government has already diversified the economy.
“We promised to diversify the economy away from oil, to ensure that other sectors are able to significantly contribute to sustainable development.
“In June 2016, for the very first time, about 70 per cent of the more than N500 billion raised from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee came from the non-oil sector, while 30 per cent came from the oil sector.
“It was the first time in 2016 that the Federal Government shared more than N500 billion among the three tiers of government,”
So there you have it. Buhari’s success summarized in three pitiful points. How a minister can call this success beats my imagination.
