Nigerians have been exhorted to maintain optimism by Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, who claims that President Bola Tinubu's initiatives to restructure the nation are already having an impact.
Bagudu made this statement during the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (P-BAT) Academics and Professionals National Policy Summit in Abuja.
"Activating the Policies and Promises in the President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda" was the topic of the summit.
According to the minister, the president has not wavered from his position since taking office, "working within the resources available."
Together, these P-BAT academics asked, "What can we do for our country?
It truly humbles and inspires us all that instead of merely lamenting, we should band together and use our collective intelligence to alert the authorities to areas where improvements may be made.
The president has called on Nigerians to raise questions in order to make sure that they take charge of the administration and keep officials on their toes, particularly in light of the actions we took that are necessary but inconvenient.
Sometimes you have to put up with a little inconvenience in order to rebuild.
"Our nation, Nigeria, is wonderful and blessed, but for many years, especially throughout the democratic era, Nigeria has existed almost on a shoestring budget.
"We have never had a budget higher than less than forty billion US dollars. We have the lowest budget among all the nations in the world with populations of 150 million or more.
A research conducted by the Organization for European Economic Cooperation and Development, according to Bagudu, indicates that Singapore spends between 20,000 and 27,000 pounds, whereas the various states of the United States spend between 10,000 and 14,000 dollars.
Brazil, Mexico, and China spend an additional 4,000, 800, 5000, and 700 dollars after this.
The research went on to calculate that investing at least $700 is necessary to create an effective primary education system.
"To achieve this, we need those who are endowed with the ability to contextualize beyond the polity in order to quiet the blame game, which is what the president is doing," he added. "This calls for a fundamental rethink."
According to Bagudu, we also need wise leaders who aren't afraid to take on new tasks and challenges.
He stated that Nigerians had reasons for optimism because they had discovered in Tinubu a leader who had previously transformed Lagos via inclusive leadership from what it used to be.
"Inclusion is being cried out for across the nation today, and we have a leader in Lagos who has demonstrated her belief in it by establishing a state that works for everyone, guiding them along and providing them with the chance to succeed.
For Tinubu to function, only a support system is required.
"His plan to take the economy from a GDP of less than 500 billion to a GDP of one trillion Naira in three years calls for audacity and risk-taking, and we will back his leadership in doing so.
"It is imperative that the gasoline subsidy be eliminated.Even though it could hurt, that action was necessary to create a better tomorrow.
Therefore, we think that some of the actions being done, especially under the president's direction, will result in a better tomorrow.
Every policy is valid for a lifetime.Therefore, no matter how wonderful a program or plan is, if we don't value it, we risk losing certain stakeholders since sometimes the rewards take time to materialize, he added.
Numerous reforms were in the works, according to Bagudu, who also promised to work quickly and to give it his all with your help.
Under Tinubu's capable leadership, "we know that by God's grace we are on the right course, and all men and women of conscience will support us to remain on the right cause," he said.
According to Mr. Tope Fasua, Special Adviser on Economic Affairs in the Vice President's Office, Tinubu's renewed hope program was still being implemented pretty much according to plan.
According to Fasua, the president recently unveiled the concept for a reborn hope housing complex, which would soon begin construction with 200,000 homes around the country.
"I've always advocated for Nigerians to try not to be pessimistic because there are options available to them.We did pledge double-digit growth, and it is still ongoing.
"We are digging roots right now, just like the Chinese bamboo." The president has pledged to implement some really difficult measures.
But, they are also the crucial roots that must be sown in order for it to germinate and grow enormously when it does.
"The 2024 budget is among the greatest budgets ever created, cutting the deficit in half and providing the necessary funding while also restructuring the revenue sector.In essence, then, we are rebuilding the economy.
P-BAT Academics and Professionals' National Coordinator and Convener, Prof. Yemi Oke, stated that the organization aimed to change the paradigm from just criticizing the government and its policies to actively participating in the governing process.
Oke claims that the organization accomplishes this by providing thoughtful, doable recommendations and solutions to assist the government in implementing policies.
Our goal is to use our privileged positions to help the Tinubu-led administration by giving of our time, energy, and resources.
"When the organization first came together, our only goal was to use her knowledge to help President Tinubu win the election. After the victory, we changed our name to P-BAT Academics and Professionals.
"The next mission is to continue volunteering our skills and abilities while constructively engaging all systems of government and adding critical objective viewpoints and principles.
"This is with the understanding that fulfilling the mandate of giving Nigerians new hope is more important than winning an election."
Nigeria, in Oke's opinion, belongs to everyone, not just the wealthy and powerful. As such, it is the responsibility of the populace to take charge of the process, promote inclusion, and hold the government accountable for its actions.
The press According to P-BAT spokesperson Mary Ikoku, the group's members were academics and professionals who created, constructed, and produced policies in addition to supporting Tinubu's ambitions.
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