Dr Ossai Edmund Ossai is an activist, public commentator and college trainer. On this interview, he speaks on President Bola Tinubu’s management and different challenges dealing with the nation, ANAYO EZUGWU writes
Trying again at Yr 2024, how would you fee the efficiency of President Tinubuled authorities?
President Tinubu seems very centered on his job and likewise very optimistic about the way forward for his reforms. That’s commendable however the reality is that Nigeria and Nigerians are having it very tough at this level. There’s a report that over half of Nigerians need to migrate.
Primary human instincts be sure that human beings are likely to run away in durations of financial adversity and it’s important that the federal government ought to know that this can be a very attempting second for the nation. However I nonetheless suppose he must take one other look, a really essential have a look at the financial reforms.
What do you suppose must be carried out otherwise to handle the current harsh scenario?
The federal government ought to re-double efforts at safety. There are some positive factors already however I feel it needs to be strengthened extra and consolidated. The final report by the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on insecurity could be very scary.
Which overseas investor will dare to return right here when such a report from an company of presidency is within the information? My manner of monitoring the safety scenario in Nigeria is that no Nigerian needs to be in an IDP camp. Once more, the spate of kidnappings needs to be halted.
As soon as, that is achieved, farmers can return to their farms as a measure to scale back the excessive value of meals gadgets. We commend the graduation of operations on the Port-Harcourt refinery; with this achievement I count on the federal government to try to scale back the price of gas by no matter means.
You’ll be able to name it any identify, ‘reintroduction of subsidy’ or ‘operation cut back gas value.’ At the moment value of gas, will probably be very tough to realize a cease-fire on the present state of starvation within the land.
A hungry nation is a bleeding nation and that’s by no means a recipe for growth, which is the primary thrust of this administration. Thus, all efforts needs to be put in place to scale back the current starvation scenario within the nation.
The starvation scenario might finally drown all of the achievements of the Tinubuled authorities. The starvation within the land is a giant problem to this authorities and until it’s genuinely tackled it’s going to proceed to drown any achievement of the federal government. In the intervening time, Nigeria is bleeding.
I additionally count on the federal government to take one other have a look at the floating of the Naira. It seems that all of the positive factors of the subsidy removing have been emasculated by the diminished worth of the Naira. Then of a lot significance is that the President ought to have interaction with Nigerians.
I count on the President to personally discuss to and relate to the individuals of Nigeria. He ought to be capable of attain out to the hearts of thousands and thousands of Nigerians, who additionally love this nation however have gotten more and more despondent about the way forward for their nation.
Even when the President decides to go forward with all these reforms as they’re at current, he ought to be capable of talk on to the individuals of Nigeria and infuse their hearts with the considerable fortunes inherent in his nice reforms.
That is an space Mr. President has not carried out very effectively, and being an achieved politician, I count on extra from him to show across the desk.
What’s your tackle the cupboard reshuffle that President Tinubu carried out. Did it produce the wanted impact you anticipated?
The Tinubu-led authorities took some strategic selections within the final cupboard reshuffle and that needs to be counseled.
It might be too early to guage however one can’t overlook that the thought to make 18 years the minimal age for admission into universities within the nation has been reversed. This concept was mooted when the typical age of finishing senior secondary schooling in Nigeria was 16years.
This coverage was anti-people and ran counter to international finest practices. That the thought was reversed might counsel that it was not a coverage belief from the Tinubu-led authorities however merely an concept authorised by somebody within the high echelon of presidency.
We should be grateful to Mr President for the choice to reshuffle the cupboard and the time it was carried out. I’m positive there are nonetheless different positive factors and likewise hopefully many extra will certainly emerge for the great of the nation.
How will you react to the optimism of the presidency that the reforms of the federal government will produce the specified outcomes quickly?
There are such a lot of issues that the federal government is conscious of which will not be inside my attain. Many Nigerians, together with myself have insisted that the dual coverage of subsidy removing and the floating of the Naira are chargeable for the current financial predicament within the nation.
I feel that the federal government thinks in any other case. As a accountable citizen, I’ve to hope that they succeed. One factor is nonetheless apparent, the instability of the nation’s forex coupled with the excessive value of gas make the vacation spot of excellent hope very far.
The resultant impact of all these is the unprecedented state of starvation within the nation, which sadly has blinded many Nigerians on the great in the way forward for Nigeria and the various developmental strides of this authorities.
The starvation within the land is a giant problem to this authorities and until it’s genuinely tackled it’s going to proceed to drown any achievement of the federal government
I’m nonetheless hopeful that the Financial group of the federal government is working spherical to clock in bringing the a number of goodies of this administration which abound of their hearts presently to the fact of all Nigerians. I’ve by no means seen a authorities that deliberately works in the direction of its failure and the Tinubu-led authorities can’t be an exception.
How do you see the state of insecurity within the South-East; do you suppose the discharge of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will carry peace to the zone as many public commentators contend?
In fact, there needs to be peace in all corners of Nigeria. I’m happy that the commander-in-chief has directed the navy to finish banditry this 12 months.
That is cheering information as a result of for the reason that struggle towards terrorism, banditry and insurgency, that is the primary time {that a} timeframe has been included. Now, coming to the South-East, particularly, I feel that the discharge of Nnamdi Kanu may speed up the peace course of within the zone.
Nevertheless, I count on that insecurity within the space and likewise within the different geo-political zones of Nigeria needs to be tackled holistically. We must also keep in mind that the present spate of starvation and the growing stage of unemployment, particularly amongst graduates in Nigeria may additionally breed insecurity.
Within the seek for peace in South-East, we must always be sure that splinter teams don’t emerge. Once more, all stakeholders needs to be concerned within the peace course of. Allow us to keep in mind that there’s native authorities autonomy and the likelihood of state police approaching board.
Additionally it is essential that we let our governors know that they’ve a terrific position to play in initiating and sustaining peace within the South-East Nigeria. For me, that is extra like a clarion name for all of us to be alive to our duties and duties each as residents and representatives of presidency.
Virtually all of the states have endorsed state police. Do you suppose it’s the best way to go in curbing insecurity?
With the current scenario in Nigeria, the thought of a state police is most welcome. I’ve determined to not concentrate on the perceived demerits of the state police at this level. A very powerful difficulty is that we’ve got an emergency in our arms that needs to be tackled urgently.
The state police system will be sure that governors are actively concerned within the safety of their states. This can be sure that they’re held accountable for safety lapses within the states as a substitute of the current scenario the place they seem helpless.
It can carry the safety of Nigerians to the entrance burner of political debates and electioneering campaigns. Nevertheless, we should do an audit on the current state of insecurity within the land study the wanted classes and know the precise roles of the state police system
. Initially, your entire safety community within the nation ought to work collectively. Then, since all of us have change into consultants in explaining how the state police system will probably be abused by the varied state governors, we should have a blueprint on checkmate such abuses.
How will you react to the assertion that the standard of schooling has gone down in Nigeria?
This assertion might imply various things to totally different individuals. One side stays excellent. Graduates from Nigerian universities excel in different nations both for his or her postgraduate academic pursuits or within the case of the medical professionals.
So, in a manner, we’re doing effectively. Once more, the commentary that a number of graduates are unemployed and nearly fully annoyed in Nigeria appears to ask questions concerning the high quality of the graduates produced. We must also keep in mind that our investments in schooling are sub-optimal.
Additionally, the varied state governments have nearly deserted major and secondary schooling to the personal sector. On the tertiary stage, public universities nonetheless stand out primarily due to the size of keep of the establishments and the perseverance of their directors. Presently, there’s a rush for college schooling outdoors Nigeria.
That is all a part of the ‘japa syndrome’ and the shortage of religion in the way forward for Nigeria by a number of of its residents. I feel the federal government ought to improve its investments within the schooling sector. There are indicators of this from some state governments and the federal finances for 2025. Authorities must also have a look at the welfare of academics from the first colleges to the college stage.
Then there may be the necessity to take a great look at this time scenario within the nation and the pathway the nation intends to observe and re-position our academic system to be the driving drive for growth.
There are requires the restructuring of Nigeria. Some say the issue is just not in restructuring however in dangerous management. What’s your place on this?
Restructuring so far as Nigeria is anxious is a political terminology and as soon as it’s talked about it evokes feelings and typically these are based mostly on sentiments.
This authorities might finally go down in historical past as one which initiated the very best types of reforms within the nation.
They need to take credit score for that. It might be politically expedient that the time period ‘restructuring’ is saved at bay whereas we progressively determine weakened areas of our social and financial methods and see how we may enhance on them constitutionally.
Think about what’s going to occur if our native authorities system is successfully managed with the present native authorities reforms initiated by the current authorities. I feel that what the current authorities is doing within the space of reforms is the easiest way to go as a substitute of shouting the restructuring agenda which is all the time considered with the utmost suspicion.
However be that as it might, there may be nonetheless a spot for good management. An excellent chief can also discover it tough to perform successfully in a faulty construction. So, you additionally want fairness, justice and equity in placing up a great construction.
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