As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks his 100th day in office as the 16th President of Nigeria, the federal government has spotlighted some of his notable achievements during this period.
In a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, the government commended President Tinubu’s commitment to rebuilding the nation’s struggling economy, despite facing daunting challenges.
The statement acknowledged the severe burden of public debt, both domestic and foreign, along with an unsustainable fuel subsidy system that had placed a significant strain on public finances, rendering the three tiers of government financially distressed and unable to meet the citizens’ needs.
In addressing these critical issues, President Tinubu made the bold decision to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a potential national economic crisis.
The statement described the fuel subsidy as a long-standing impediment to Nigeria’s growth and a factor that had constrained the nation’s development.
Furthermore, the government highlighted President Tinubu’s efforts to unify the multiple foreign exchange markets, aiming to stabilize the nation’s financial system.
While recognizing that these reforms had brought temporary discomfort to Nigerians, the statement emphasized President Tinubu’s appeal to the people to view these inconveniences as a necessary sacrifice to save the country from impending economic collapse.
To mitigate the negative impacts of these reforms, the government implemented various intervention programs, including raising the minimum wage and salaries, supporting states and local governments to assist the most vulnerable citizens, providing fertilizers to farmers, distributing grains to households, and offering cash transfers to low-income individuals.
Plans for the deployment of over 11,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for affordable public transportation were also mentioned.
In addition, President Tinubu’s administration has focused on redirecting the economy and removing barriers to productivity and competitiveness in the real sector to foster long-term economic growth and create millions of sustainable jobs.
Notably, a Tax and Fiscal Reforms Committee, led by a renowned expert, was established to simplify the tax system, eliminate multiple taxes, streamline business regulations, and address the annual tax gap of over 20 trillion.
The statement also underscored President Tinubu’s commitment to promoting political stability in Nigeria, recognizing that peace is essential for meaningful progress and development.
Efforts to reduce ethnic and religious tensions through better management of the nation’s diversity and balanced appointments into key government positions were commended.
Lastly, within his first 100 days, President Tinubu assumed the role of Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, further solidifying Nigeria’s regional leadership.
The statement portrayed President Tinubu’s leadership as purposeful and characterized by a commitment to addressing economic challenges, promoting political stability, and steering the nation toward sustainable growth and development.