The Association of Nigerian Artisans and Technicians (ASNAT) has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on emerging as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 election, pledging to mobilise support for his re-election across the country’s 176,846 polling units.
The association, however, urged the President to exercise greater caution in the appointment of aides, heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and chief executives of government parastatals when re-elected, saying shortcomings in some appointments had undermined the delivery of benefits to artisans and technicians.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its Head of New Media, Abdulkadir Salihu (IBN), ASNAT described Tinubu’s emergence as the APC flagbearer as a well-deserved victory and commended the economic and social reforms introduced under his administration.
The group said the President had laid the foundation for Nigeria’s structural transformation through his Renewed Hope Agenda, expressing confidence that he would continue to drive national development if given another mandate.
‘While we acknowledge that the nation has not yet reached the Promised Land, we remain steadfast in our belief that through his Renewed Hope Agenda, God will grant him the wisdom and strength to achieve greater national development,’ the statement said.
ASNAT noted that although artisans and technicians had encountered challenges over the past three years, largely due to what it described as the failure of some government agencies and parastatals charged with their welfare, members of the association had nevertheless benefited from several flagship initiatives of the Tinubu administration.
The association specifically cited the federal government’s tax reforms, which it said exempted artisans and other small businesses with annual turnovers of ?100 million or less and fixed assets not exceeding ?250 million from Companies Income Tax and other levies.
According to the group, the reforms have eliminated the four per cent development levy, Capital Gains Tax and Value Added Tax obligations for many artisans and technicians, easing the financial burden on small-scale enterprises.
It also praised the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting that student loans provided through the scheme were helping many Nigerian families, including artisans whose children were pursuing higher education.
ASNAT further applauded ongoing infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, expressing optimism that artisans and technicians would benefit significantly from the economic opportunities expected to arise from the projects upon completion.
Reaffirming its support for the President, the association said its members remained committed to Tinubu’s vision and would replicate the support they offered during the 2023 election.
‘Our network across the 176,846 polling units nationwide remains committed to the Renewed Hope vision,’ the statement added.
The association, however, advised the President to be meticulous in assembling his team for a possible second term, stressing that Nigeria’s ongoing transformation required competent, loyal and patriotic public officials.
‘We strongly advise him to exercise extreme caution and diligence in selecting the team of aides and officials, particularly heads of MDAs and directors-general of parastatals who will work with him in his second term, to ensure that the significant failures of this first term are not repeated,’ the statement said.
It added that the country was passing through a critical phase of national transformation and that consolidating the gains already recorded would depend largely on the quality of individuals entrusted with implementing government policies.
ASNAT wished the President success in his future endeavours and reiterating its support for his administration and re-election bid.