THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, CULTURAL RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL TASKS FOR PRESIDENT MOHAMMADU BUHARI WITH HIS 9TH ASSEMBLY
ABSTRACT
Nigeria is gifted with
massive natural and human resources sufficient to place it among the first 20
developed countries of the world. However, it takes a positive and influential
government to manage this resource effectively. This paper tasks President Mohammadu
Buhari with His 9th Assembly in the following areas; The
Socio-Economic, Political, Cultural Religious and Educational, in other to
effectively put these resources in perfect status.
INTRODUCTION
Nigeria is endowed with enormous natural and human resources
sufficient to place it among the first 20 developed countries of the world. It
is Africa’s largest producer of oil and the sixth largest oil producing country
in the world. With a population of over 170 million people, Nigeria is Africa’s
most populous country and its largest economy. Coupled with the possession of
over 100 tertiary institutions producing more than 200,000 graduates per annum,
the country possesses abundant human capital critical for national development.
It was billed as a close contest between two septuagenarian
heavyweights vying to lead Africa’s largest democracy. But after a one-week
delay, accusations of political chicanery from both sides, and election-related the violence that led to at least 39 deaths, incumbent Nigerian President Muhammadu
Buhari secured a second term in office over major opposition candidate Atiku
Abubakar.
For Mr. Abubakar, an against-the-odds legal challenge to Mr.
Buhari’s mandate is underway. Mr. Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) face
the more straightforward task of governance after retaining the presidency and
securing a majority in both houses of parliament.
Appointing a cabinet, which took more than six months in 2015,
will now be Mr. Buhari’s priority.
That delay was due to a lack of proper handover notes by the
outgoing Goodluck Jonathan administration and the process will run smoother
this time as it’s a transition to himself, says Ayo Akanji, a presidential
aide.
In the first term pockmarked by ministerial scandals, it is
important for Mr. Buhari to appoint quality officials to serve under him, says
Tunde Leye, an economist at risk advisory firm SBM Intelligence.
But Mr. Leye says if the re-appointment of Central Bank of Nigeria
governor Godwin Emefiele for a second term is anything to go by, Nigerians can
expect more of the same policies.
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, CULTURAL RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL
FOR TASKS PRESIDENT MOHAMMADU BUHARI WITH HIS 9TH ASSEMBLY
Socio-Economic Task
Nigeria’s economy is largely reliant on oil revenues – revenues that
were hit by the 2014 global oil price crash that led the economy into a
recession it only recently recovered from.
Although oil prices have seemingly stabilized, they are still far
below the level Nigeria needs to provide adequate revenue for its spending, and
with a fall in non-oil revenues in the latest government earnings, Nigeria keeps borrowing
to stay afloat.
“For the first time in history, in 2018 oil revenues were not
sufficient to cover Nigeria’s public service wages and that is a serious
worry,” Mr. Leye said.
Nigeria presently spends almost 70 percent of its income servicing debt and has not significantly reduced spending to
match diminished income. Public debt has nearly doubled in four years.
Economic indices paint a grim picture of Mr. Buhari’s first term,
during which Nigeria slid past India to become the country with most people
living in extreme poverty. Almost half of Nigeria estimated 197 million citizens live on less than $2 per day.
Unemployment is over 23 percent and Nigeria remains a difficult
climate for investors. Foreign Direct Investment dropped 36 percent in 2018.
Ghana, with a GDP about eight times smaller, attracts more.
Yet Mr. Akanji is
optimistic about Nigeria’s economic fortunes, saying Mr. Buhari has led a
“homegrown economic model” responsible for pulling the country out of
recession.
“The diversification of the economy is in top gear as renowned
companies are coming to set up factories and help spur the industrial complex
in Nigeria,” he said.
For many in 2015, Mr. Buhari’s reputation as a former military the leader was proof that he was the man needed to root out the terror group Boko
Haram in Nigeria’s northeast, where a decade of violence has killed thousands
and displaced many more.
Political Tasks
“For democracy to endure
and be productive on the continent, President Mohammadu Buhari with His 9th Assembly
must realize that true hero of leadership are not those whose desperation to
impose their will endangers society, but those who have the humility to
subjugate their personal ambitions to the collective interest of their nations.
“President Mohammadu Buhari with His 9th Assembly must realize
that the greatest and most enduring legacy to leave behind is that of peace and
development.
We are convinced that
anyone, either in government or outside government, who truly loves Nigeria,
will not want to play the role of the villain by lending his support to any
action that instigates crises. There is no gainsaying that when politicians
resort to desperate measures in the bid to occupy important political
positions, they run the risk of plunging their countries into serious crises
that often lead to loss of lives, degradation of values as well as the
destruction of private and public assets.”
Although democracy is
taking firm root in the continent, President Mohammadu Buhari with His 9th Assembly
should remember that failure to make the democratic process peaceful always
make growth difficult to attain. “We know that good governance is the fertile the ground upon which peace and sustainable economic growth are planted.
In this regard, it is
important to point out that in a democracy, the periodic, credible and peaceful
government is the necessary gateways to improved governance and people-oriented
development. “It is on record that despite the marked improvement on the
regularity and number of democratic nations, election-related violence has
continued to be experienced in many African nations, often to the detriment of
peaceful co-existence, economic growth, and sustainable development.
Cultural and Religious Tasks
The criticisms of his
attendance by some, including cultural organization, Ohaeneze, and Christian
Association of Nigeria is not new or unexpected. For those who know President
Buhari, these tantrums don’t make him angry, in the full understanding that
when the critics take time to read or see the outcomes, they too will be glad
that the decision was taken to be present at the key strategic gathering.
Interestingly, the major
takeaways from this meeting were concerns expressed daily by Church leaders and
Imams. The issues deal directly with safety, peace, and prosperity of the
nation and its citizens.
It is noteworthy that
President Buhari, leading other African leaders got key support for many issues
of concern or interest to Nigeria and the African continent at the meeting. Top
on the list is a strong condemnation of terrorist acts. The meeting agreed that
fighting terrorism is a major priority, resolving to work together to “prevent
and suppress terrorist acts through strong international solidarity and
cooperation in full recognition of the UN’s central role in that regard.”
In the specific case of
countries of Lake Chad Basin facing “grave security challenges and vicious
insurgency arising from Boko Haram terrorism and insurgency,” members agreed to
increase humanitarian aid. To this end, the regional humanitarian office of the
OIC in Niamey, Niger Republic will be upgraded to a Regional Representative
Mission to “mobilized political commitment and undertake development and
humanitarian activities.”
President Buhari equally
got reassuring support for recharging of Chad Basin, a goal he has consistently
promoted on the global stage. The Lake had shrunk to 10 percent of its size due
to effects of climate change, with dire economic consequences for many. The OIC
members assured that they will support the ongoing project of recharging the
lake, in view of the socioeconomic benefits to neighbouring countries.
Reducing poverty and
hunger was also discussed extensively. Members saw the need and made strong commitments
to assisting less privileged member-countries to tackle poverty and hunger. To
this effect, members that had not pledged to the Islamic Solidarity Fund for
The development was asked to do so and those that pledged contributions deemed
to be low in view of current reality were requested to increase.
The solidarity fund aims
to reduce poverty among member-states by “promoting pro-poor development and
human development.” The Islamic Organisation for Food Security was charged to
address challenges of agriculture, rural development, and food insecurity.
Soon, there will be a framework for the development of OIC renewable energy in
terms of both access and distribution.
Another important
achievement by the African the group, in particular, was by way of establishing
an economic assistance program for them and other less privileged OIC countries
to cope with economic development challenges. In the area of finance,
development and trade, the meeting commended the Islamic Development, (IDB),
for the model, it operates that promotes competitive development among members,
developing infrastructure and promoting the private sector.
Going forward, OIC
members agreed to boost trade with a target of 25 percent trade exchange. To
push this, a framework for the Trade Preferential System will be worked out.
Another vision of
President Buhari which got attention and support at the 14th Summit in Makkah
is on the environment. Members will promote environmental education because it
will help countries to deal with degradation. The meeting agreed that this will
also raise health standards.
Educational Tasks
Every country understands how important
education is, as it plays a significant role in the development and influences
future generations. In hopes to improve education, President Mohammadu Buhari
His 9th Assembly should enforce on providing all the necessary
need to Educational Agencies in other to function very well. While the typical
tasks of every agency of education are to implement administrative tasks and
goals and tasks which focus on providing training for the masses, each agency
performs many functions.
Its main tasks are: To approve every academic
program in universities and college, to approve the establishment colleges and
universities and their educational plans, to make sure that each academic curriculum
a Nigerian student takes is of high quality, to offer support to all higher
education institutions in our country.
Training teachers Helping teachers get new
certifications Offering distance education Offering postgraduate educational
opportunities and exams to graduate-level teachers Conducting examinations for
teachers Creating new educational programs and researching ways to improve
education in Nigeria Functions of West African Examinations Council It is an
essential educational agency for the whole of West Africa, the primary
functions of WAEC are: To organize the significant O' Level examination for
West Africa. Deciding which exams are needed for school students from different
countries in West Africa Issuing of O'level certificates to successful students
in West Africa.
Ensuring that educational standards are met during exams.
Promoting education and helping students understand how big they're potential
goes beyond the exams Functions of National Examinations Council It is another the famous agency that is abbreviated as NECO. According to the NECO website, the
main tasks of the National Examinations Council are: Conduct Basic Education
Certificate Exams shortly called BECE Organize National Common Entrance Exams
abbreviated as NCEE Oversee Senior School Certificate Exams known as SSCE.
CONCLUSION
Writers on Nigeria’s political evolution posit
that bad leadership is a major factor why Nigeria has been reduced to a giant
with clay feet.
The failure of the political leadership to
harness Nigeria’s huge potential has created several securities, economic and
political challenges that have prevented the country from becoming strong,
stable and prosperous. The desire for genuine transformation of Nigeria partly
accounted for the thumping victory of Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28
presidential election.
The way the new administration of President
Buhari and his 9th Assembly handles these challenges will go a long way in defining the image of Nigeria in the years ahead. For President
Muhammadu Buhari his 9th Assembly to make a success of his
avowed intentions to bring the change that Nigeria needs, he must put in place
the right policies, programs, and personnel. However, it takes
a positive and influential government to manage our resource effectively, which
what are the president and his 9th assembly should
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