Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has rejected the picture of a gloomy economy and democratic governance painted by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at a public lecture in Yola Adamawa State.
He said the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking steps to address long standing challenges confronting the country.
Barau said that while Osinbajo’s observations drawn from the Afrobarometer surveys on Nigeria and other African countries were valid the ongoing efforts geared towards addressing the economic issues should not be glossed over.
He said government also needs to improve communication with the people to highlight its efforts.
Barau spoke during a public lecture titled: ‘Democracy and Development: Rethinking the Leadership Question’ organised to commemorate Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s 59th birthday on Tuesday.
The lecture was delivered by Prof. Osinbajo who was vice-president between 2015 and 2023.
The former vice president expressed concern about the failure of democratic governance across Africa after almost three decades of uninterrupted democratic rule in several countries.
Alluding to the Afrobarometer surveys Osinbajo who was defeated by President Tinubu during the APC presidential primary in 2022 highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with democratic institutions economic hardship declining public confidence in government and diminishing youth participation in electoral politics.
He noted that although 64 per cent of Africans preferred democracy to other forms of government only 38 per cent were satisfied with the way democracy was working in their respective countries.
Osinbajo a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) also said 59 per cent of Africans considered their national economies to be in bad shape while 51 per cent said their economies had deteriorated.
He lamented the rising cost of living unemployment inadequate access to healthcare and declining voter turnout warning that persistent hardship could weaken public confidence in democracy particularly among young people.
Responding to the presentation Barau said: ‘I know he is a very good orator a good public speaker and an intellectual to the core. Having said that I am compelled to make some comments on the paper. It is a very beautiful and thought-provoking paper.’
However Barau pointed out that the gloomy picture painted by the surveys was being addressed adding that the gaps were partly attributable to inadequate communication between governments and citizens.
He said: ‘What I want to say is this: one important reason for the gloomy picture portrayed by the surveys particularly those conducted by Afrobarometer is what the professor talked about and specifically observed: the issue of communication between the leaders and the led. There is no proper communication.’
The Deputy Senate President maintained that governments at the federal and state levels were taking steps to address the challenges identified by Osinbajo particularly in the areas of education infrastructure and economic development.
On education Barau said government was expanding access to education to address the challenges posed by the growing population and its large youth demographic.
He said providing educational opportunities for children particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds remained critical to addressing the country’s long-term developmental challenges.
Barau stressed: ‘Before now it was very difficult for a child who did not have the means to go to school. Now everyone except a child who does not want to go to school can go to school in Nigeria with the NELFUND introduced by this administration.’
He also drew attention to the importance of infrastructure development in driving economic prosperity noting that roads water supply and other essential facilities are necessary to improve living standards and stimulate economic activities.
Barau listed some road projects across the country including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway the Badagry-Sokoto Highway and several projects in the Northeast and Northwest as evidence of the government’s efforts to address infrastructure deficits.
He said: ‘When we talk about economic prosperity you cannot achieve it without a certain level of infrastructure including road networks water supply and other essential infrastructure.
‘This is what is happening currently in this country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration. Roads are being constructed everywhere to propel the process of bringing economic prosperity. That is being done. It is a long journey but it is being done. Yet there is no proper communication.’
Barau called for sustained public engagement to ensure that Nigerians are adequately informed about government policies projects and interventions.
On the economic challenges he said the rising cost of living should also be understood within the context of global economic pressures.
Barau attributed the increase in the cost of energy goods and services to international conflicts and disruptions in global supply chains particularly those affecting major food-producing regions and energy markets.
Barau attributed the volatility in global energy markets to the disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz a major international oil transit route.
He said: ‘The fact is that these challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria; they have an international dimension. The rising cost of living is partly attributable to conflicts in different parts of the world including the Middle East as well as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
‘These conflicts have disrupted global supply chains driven up energy prices and increased the cost of goods and services worldwide’ he added.
Barau who is the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament said the resulting economic turbulence had affected many countries noting that Nigeria could not be insulated from global economic developments.
He added: ‘Nigeria is not an island.’
Barau urged political leaders public officials and other stakeholders to take responsibility for communicating government policies and interventions more effectively stressing that improved communication is essential to bridging the gap between citizens’ expectations and their understanding of government performance.
He said Nigerians should be adequately informed about the challenges confronting the country the measures being taken to address them and the progress being made towards economic recovery and national development.