One of the cardinal campaign promises of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was the provision of a broad array of Social Welfare Programmes (SWP) aimed at the most vulnerable segments of our society – the old, the unemployed, school children and others.
To achieve these objectives, N500 billion was included in the 2017 budget to fund several programmes in education, employment and school feeding programme.
Discernible observers had pointed out right from the start that the request for N500bn, the highest allocation for any programme ever, was made without any demonstrable plan for the attainment of the goals or details regarding how the funds allocated to each sub-programme would be raised and spent.
The fears of the critics appear well-founded. When the House of Representatives asked Mrs. Maryam Uwais, who is in charge of the SWP, to provide the situation report, she pleaded for more time for her to address the complex issues involved.
Yet, eight months have expired; there are only four months left in the year. A programme which should have acted as a stimulus to an economy in recession since the first quarter of 2016 is still on the drawing board.
The question for the Federal Government is: was the N500bn put in the budget without a detailed plan? Are the details just now being worked out after arm-twisting a reluctant National Assembly to approve the budget with the N500bn included? Clearly, it is now almost impossible to spend N500bn in four months without wasting a lot of it. Programmes like the recruitment of teachers and the provision of school meals are well behind schedule.
The teachers who applied on-line have not been sorted out, offered appointments and posted to the schools. Food vendors have also not been selected and assigned for the supply of food to school children. But, schools will open in mid-September. Have these programmes been deferred till next year or what? Uwais is not forthcoming with information; and the President, who made the promises, is not talking either. With each passing day, the credibility gap is opening up.
A government which had lost a great deal of goodwill cannot afford to add failure to fulfil its Social Welfare promises to the list without a considerable loss of the support it needs from Nigerians to get the nation out of recession. As late US President John Kennedy once observed, “The worst thing that can happen to a leader is to look back and discover that there is nobody following”. Failure to get these programmes off the ground this year will leave President Buhari leading only a few followers.
Culled from Vanguard newspaper Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
one meal a day is now equal to no meal at all for most Nigerians, Graduate allowance is now equal to massive job loss putting even those unemployed graduate who depends on those that have lost their jobs into more troubles and hopelessness, One dollar is equal to one naira now translates to one dollar is to 450 naira. etc Change dole! APC is a disaster! Just taking and blaming everybody except themselves. APC! Useless people! Useless Party! APC! Kworshiokor Change! may ALLAH save us from their wicked hand. Ameen
ReplyDeleteAPC! Werepe Change! Sai Baba Baba for 2024! hahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteI told people that APC is fraud, they shouted at me. What are we seeing now? APC chain
ReplyDeleteIlluminati Freemason INTRODUCTION TO ILLUMINATI Email address: freemansonroberts@gmail.com It is a well-known fact that Illuminati consist of Multi Millionaires, Billionaires who have major influence regarding most global affairs, including the planning of a New World Order. Many world leaders, Presidents, Prime Ministers, royalty and senior executives of major Fortune 500 companies are members of Illuminati. Now, for the FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, we are opening our doors to the masses. If you would like to Join Illuminati, Just register with us today@ Email address: freemansonroberts@gmail.com BENEFITS GIVEN TO NEW MEMBERS WHO JOIN ILLUMINATI. A Cash Reward of USD $300,000 A New Sleek Dream CAR valued at USD $120,000 A Dream House bought in the country of your own choice One Month holiday (fully paid) to your dream tourist destination. One year Golf Membership package A V.I.P treatment in all Airports in the World A total Lifestyle change Acces
ReplyDeleteIlluminati ko! Freemasons ni!:_you no get work and you de look for people to cob. Na so una de go die for wtin una no know mumu! I no blame you but the APC induced hunger and hopelessness. Idiot.
ReplyDeleteIf all these benefits are there by now d illuminati group would have been over populated by Nigerians. Pls. Set ur focus in the right things that can endure. Things that your next generation can be proud of any time your name is mentioned.
ReplyDelete