Reading the lips of many and echoing the feelings of most Nigerians, Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed has taken a critical look at the touted Federal Government economic reforms and returned a verdict of the policies not working. He warned on the dangers of imminent unrest in the face of hunger ravaging the land.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Reading the lips of many and echoing the feelings of most Nigerians, Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed has taken a critical look at the touted Federal Government economic reforms and returned a verdict of the policies not working. He warned on the dangers of imminent unrest in the face of hunger ravaging the land.
He therefore urged the federal government to review its current monetary and fiscal policies for effective delivery. The governor also advised the government to be proactive and avoid being dogmatic in its approach, emphasizing the urgent need for change due to the growing hardship in the country.
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Governor Mohammed, who made the observations at the launch of the Nigeria Development Update in Abuja on Thursday, highlighted the plight of ordinary Nigerians, warning that hunger and economic hardship have created a volatile situation. In such situation, he said, people in leadership position face the threat of being lynched by frustrated citizens.
In his words: “When the reforms started, the sub-nationals supported the President. But now, the macroeconomic policies causing inflation need to be reconsidered. There is hunger, people are suffering, and Nigerians are not benefitting from these reforms.”
Governor Mohammed also called on the federal government to develop more effective economic policies, stressing that the funds currently being received are insufficient to address the widespread hunger. “What are you doing to reduce hunger? We must help the people cope,” he added.
“The purchasing power of the people has drastically diminished. My brother Cardoso, these policies are not working. They need to be reviewed. Let’s not resort to blackmail.”
Addressing the issue of electricity, the governor remarked: “What about power? The tariffs are so high that people cannot afford to pay. We are on the brink of being lynched. These policies are not working. We must review them.”
