What I’ll do differently to put Nigeria’s economy on right path — Atiku

THE Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has outlined a number of initiatives he intends to put in place to set Nigeria’s economy on the path of growth if given the mandate to preside over the nation’s affairs. 

Atiku stated this in a written response to the last week‘s decision by Moody’s Investors Service (The Moody’s) to downgrade the Nigerian Government’s Credit Rating from B3 to Caa1, which he described as “a very significant downgrade.”

He said: “If given the opportunity to lead the country, I will act differently and change the economic direction of Nigeria for the better. I will undertake far-reaching fiscal restructuring to improve liquidity and the management of our fiscal resources.

“Among others, I will undertake an immediate review of government spending with a view to eliminating all leakages arising from subsidy payments.

“Second, I will stop all fiscal support to ailing and under-performing state enterprises.

“Third, I will take steps to improve spending efficiency by gradual reduction of government recurrent expenditures.

“Fourth, I will undertake a review of government procurement processes to ensure value-for-money and eliminate all leakages. 

“Finally, I will focus on non-debt financing by promoting a private sector-led Infrastructure Development Fund for the financing and delivery of key infrastructure projects.”

He noted that Moody’s decision, which wasn’t unexpected brought to the fore, the FGN’s deteriorating fiscal and debt position and its lack of capacity to respond to same, with its  ‘exacerbating policy trading-off’ between debt servicing and the financing of critical sectors, including education, health, and other social programmes.

Polls: Youth group adopts Atiku/Okowa for president, vice

A group of youths from the three geo-political zones of the country has adopted the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa ahead of the February 25 presidential election.

The youths, drawn from the South South, South East and South West zones of the country, under the aegis of Team Rescue Nigeria in conjunction with Visionary Movement of Atiku/Okowa 2023 also vowed to garner grassroots support for the duo. 

Speaking in Yenagoa, National Coordinator of the group, Owobu Isaac, said the essence of their gathering in Bayelsa was to call on Nigerians to use their Permanent Voters Cards effectively to stop the present leadership, which he described as visionless, adding that the Atiku/Okowa partnership will offer great hope of turning around the fortunes of the country.

He said: “Atiku/Okowa are reliable and vibrant. They have done a lot and they are the only candidates that can lead Nigeria to a better future. Atiku is a futuristic person, he has a good plan for Nigeria and we are convinced that is what he is going to do.”

Culled from Vanguard