Politics
Osinbajo rubbishes policies, budget of past govt
In from Olumide Olaoluwa ….
Past policies and budgeting of government were not dictated by needs of Nigeria, Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has declared.
He spoke during a courtesy visit by members of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) at the State House, Abuja.
According to him: “Governments have not been accountable to the people, otherwise policies should have roots in the real conditions of the people.”
A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, quoted Osinbajo as lamenting that some past planning, policy formulation and budgets were not accountable to the people.
Concerned by extreme poverty in the country, Osinbajo restated that records have shown that Nigeria has 110 million poor people, representing two third of the population.
These masses, he stated, had been disempowered by the kind of policy formulation of the past.
According to the VP: “When you look at the economic and social policies, and you look at the level of illiteracy in parts of the country, some are extremely bad and some with cases of about 80% or 90% of children out of school, and other cases of unimaginable decayed infrastructure.”
Read also: Osinbajo explains bailout to states
He welcomed the idea of a Policy Rountable proposed to him by members of the Alumni Association, pointing out that what has been lacking in government is a time to think, reflect and consider policy while still working at a fast pace day by day.
The policy roundtable is intended to provide an interface between policy experts and makers on a governmental platform to address the needs and improve the living conditions of the citizens through policy formulation.
The President of the Alumni Association, Major-General Lawrence Onoja (Rtd.) expressed appreciation for President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to fight corruption and reposition the economy.
He urged the administration to conduct a forensic audit of the government agencies and jail all those found guilty of looting the country after confiscating the assets.
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