A member of the House of Representatives, Prince Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka (GNI), has said that despite all the daunting odds, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done well to reposition the nation’s economy to the path of recovery and progress.
ýýIsiaka who revealed that he agreed 100 percent with the government when it declared recently that ‘the economy has turned the corner,’ said President Tinubu ýshould come back for the second term in 2027 so that the good things being championed by the administration could be completed.
ýýýThe lawmaker from Ogun State representing the Yewa North and Imeko – Afon Federal Constituency in the 10th National Assembly recalled that in the last two years inflation, interest rate, foreign reserve issues and instability in exchange rate were some of the things bedeviling the country but said as of today, they have all been taken care through audacious policy reforms.
ýýHe stated this yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, while speaking with newsmen, shortly appearing as a guest speaker at the monthly Business meeting of the Nigeria Institute Public Relations (NIPR), Ogun State chapter.
ýýHe also scored the present administration at the centre high in the areas of policy continuity, especially the project 2050 of Nigeria which it inherited from the immediate past administration.
ýý’For instance, this is the first time we are going to have perspective planning for about 30 years. We have never had that type of thing before that we have in the 2020 plan. Good enough, this government is continuing it, so we are getting there.
ýý’This government has done well. I have said that the project 2050 of Nigeria that we have, was done in 2020 by the last administration and it is now further broken down into a five – year plan. The first one is from 2021 to 2025. That is ending by this year. The second one is 2026 – 2031. This government has latched into that. That is going to become effective next year with some changes because of the parameters that have changed.
ýý’The exchange rate at that time is not the exchange rate now. Subsidy was available then but it is not there now. So, there may be little amendments but the entire thing is taking up from there.
ýý’So, I think this Government has done well for this kind of continuity that we have. Another government could have said ‘I don’t have any business to do with project 2050’ and go start something else. That has not happened. That is why when the government said the economy has turned the corner, I said ‘I hundred percent agreed with that.’
ýý’One of the things that have been bedeviling us in the last two years include inflation, interest rate, foreign reserve and instability in exchange rate. All of those ones have been taken care of as we speak.
ýý’A lot of measures have been introduced to alleviate challenges. The student loan funds have been put in place to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable in the society so that while we are waiting for those big plans to come into force at least we also take care of the vulnerable and weak among us.
ýý’For me, I believe that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should come back for the second term so that some of these good things can be completed.’
ýýSpeaking earlier on the NIPR business meeting with the theme: ‘Nigeria at 65: Pathways for National Development and Economic Sustainability,’ he said despite daunting challenges, Nigeria has recorded tangible progress since independence in areas of education, stable democratic rule, improved revenue from non – oil export, digital economy among others.
ýýThe lawmaker however said that the nation still has a long way to go to catch up with countries like Singapore and Malaysia that were at par with Nigeria at some stage and identified leadership and followership challenges, policy in consistency, poor population census data, lack of continuity of programme due to change in government as some of the factors stymieing the nation’s efforts at realising her true potentials 65 years after.
In her address earlier, the Ogun NIPR chairperson, Mrs Oluwaseun Boye, emphasized the place of public relations in shaping narratives that build trust, promote unity and inspire collective action for national development.
Mrs Boye said that Nigeria’s greatness lies in the commitment of the citizens and urged all hands to be on deck for a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria to emerge.
ýpublic relations professionals,
‘Our role as public relations professionals is to shape narratives that build trust, promote unity, and inspire collective action. We must use our platforms to bridge divides, amplify truth, and galvanize every stakeholder toward nation-building.
ýý’Nigeria’s greatness lies in the commitment of its people. If truly all hands are on deck, then a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria is not just possible it is inevitable, so I charge you all to join hands together to achieve a Nigeria of our dreams that we can all be proud of.
ý’ýIt reminds us that the task of nation-building requires fresh thinking, renewed commitment, and deliberate actions from every sector , including public relations,’ she said.