First 100 Days: FG Lists Achievements, Says Current Pains Temporary

* Insists Nigeria enjoying global respect under Tinubu

* Vows to eliminate multiple taxes, close N20tn annual gap

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Federal Government Tuesday reeled out several achievements in the first 100 days of the Bola Tinubu administration, maintaining that Nigeria is currently making steady progress and national rejuvenation under the new dispensation.

In a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, the government said that the Nigerian economy was ‘battered’ before Tinubu took over the reins of governance, but had started the rebuilding process.

The minister noted that realising that the country was in a difficult situation with public debts, both local and foreign, the president took a bold decision to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe.

According to him, the fuel subsidy was a ‘Sword of Damocles’ that hung over Nigeria for decades and stunted its growth, as well as setting the country on unsustainable borrowing path.

In addition to subsidy removal, Idris noted that Tinubu took further steps to unify the multiple foreign exchange markets.

“While these two vital steps to save the country from hitting the rocks brought momentary discomfort to Nigerians, President Tinubu has never failed in his appeal to Nigerians to see the current inconveniences as a price we must all pay to save our country from disappearing,” he noted.

Considering the people’s pains, Idris pointed out that the government rolled out intervention programmes to help cushion the unintended negative impacts of the reforms.

These interventions, he said, included working out a minimum wage and salary increase, supporting states and local governments to enable them cater for the most vulnerable, providing fertilisers to farmers and grains to households.

He also listed cash transfers to people with low incomes, plans to roll out over 11,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for affordable public transportation, among others, as some of the ways the government was reducing the impact of the economic reforms.

In addition, the Federal Government stated that it was removing the impediments to productivity and competitiveness so that the real sector can grow and create millions of decent jobs that are essential for long term economic growth.

“In the last 100 days, the government set up a Tax and Fiscal Reforms Committee that is fully at work to deepen the ongoing reforms and reposition the national economy for long-term sustainability.

“A renowned tax and fiscal policy expert is leading this committee. Part of the committee’s mandate, working with the state governments, is to simplify our complicated tax system, eliminate multiple taxes, streamline regulations that negate the ease of doing business, and close the over 20 trillion annual tax gap,” the minister stressed.

According to him, to ensure that Nigerians and businesses are not burdened with new taxes, the administration will promote efficiency in revenue collection.  

Besides, he stated that the government  will expand the tax net by ensuring that those not paying are made to pay while those not paying the correct amount are made to pay their fair share.

Within the last 100 days, Idris explained that Tinubu has worked to promote political stability in Nigeria, adding that the president understands that there cannot be any meaningful progress and development without  peace.

The administration, he said, has stabilised the polity and reduced tensions associated with ethnic and religious agitations by better managing Nigeria’s diversity.

“President Tinubu believes Nigeria’s heterogeneity is a strength to harness for national development. To strengthen the bond of national unity and social harmony, Tinubu ensured balance in all the appointments into key government positions including that of service chiefs from diverse parts of the country.

“While promoting peace and political stability within the country by carrying along every segment of our country, the president also prioritises adequate information about government activities and policy direction,” the minister noted.

On the foreign scene, Idris maintained that having emerged as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government within his 100 days in office, Tinubu has discharged his role commendably and raised the profile of Nigeria globally and within the West African sub-region.

In addition, the minister explained that the president has promoted the rule of law, defended constitutional order, and had been standing as a bulwark against military incursion into governance, especially in the Republic of Niger, where a democratic government was toppled recently.

“It is not by accident that Nigeria continues to enjoy the respect of the rest of the world. It is so because of the firm and principled stand of President Tinubu for the ideals of democracy, rule of law and good governance,” the minister said.

In continuation of his drive to rejuvenate and revitalise the national economy, he said Tinubu embarked on a journey to India accompanied by a select delegation of cabinet ministers and over 30 entrepreneurs across various sectors of the economy for the G20 summit.

This initiative, he said, showcases Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate meaningfully for sustainable economic development.

Accordingly to Idris, in the last 100 days, Tinubu has offered purposeful leadership and set the administration’s tone, texture, and character.

He stated that the appointment of ministers and allocation of portfolios bolstered the growing global confidence in the direction the president is taking  Nigeria.

He added: “This action has renewed the trust of both the local and international communities in the ability of President Tinubu to revamp and retool the political economy for collective and shared prosperity.

“The spiralling confidence of the business community is the primary reason equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange recently beat a 15-year record.

“This period may be challenging, but the president has planted the seeds of national transformation, growth and all-round development.”

The government appealed to Nigerians and the labour unions to continue to support the current reforms and show more understanding.