Following the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s government, Nigerians have continued to express mixed feelings, with some praising and criticizing him.
On May 29, 2023, Mr. Tinubu took the oath of office as Nigeria’s 16th president.
Speaking with media on Monday, some Okitipupa, Ondo State, residents praised Mr. Tinubu for his efforts to revive the country’s economy, while others claimed he had let down Nigerians who held high expectations of him.
The respondents advised Mr. Tinubu to rearrange his cabinet for best results, even as they urged him to look for capable candidates.
Former Okitipupa Local Government chairman Morenike Alaka claimed that Mr. Tinubu was not the cause of Nigeria’s current economic problems, claiming instead that they were an inherited issue.
Ms. Alaka stated that without enacting certain policies that would be detrimental to Nigerians in the short term but advantageous in the long run, it would be hard to improve the current state of affairs in the nation.
“What we are facing now are just measures that are hard now but will benefit us in the long run,” she said. “We just need to cooperate and continue to pray for this government.”
In addition, Mr. Tinubu was merely attempting to improve the economy, according to Niyi Adesokan, head of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Okitipupa Local Government Chapter, who also stated that the majority of the issues being faced “are only teething problems which shall fade out very soon.”
He continued by saying that a great deal had been damaged by the previous administration, “particularly by borrowing, which is literally having negative effects on the country and her currency.”
“With regard to local government autonomy, Mr. Tinubu has demonstrated a dedication to implementing this in each local government to guarantee growth at the community level. You will witness significant grassroots development as soon as autonomy is granted, he said.
For his part, Dipo Akomolafe, a former head of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Okitipupa’s Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), expressed that Tinubu’s first year in office had been difficult for both small and large-scale citizens.
Mr. Akomolafe, who pointed out that the education sector was also negatively impacted, claimed that insufficient funding allocation had caused the health and welfare of postsecondary institution staff to stagnate, which was impeding their ability to carry out their primary research responsibilities.
Prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party Larry Ogunmusire called Mr. Tinubu’s one-year rule difficult and pointed out that his economic policies made life worse for Nigerians.
He continued by saying that the power and defense industries had suffered greatly as many Nigerians had not had eight hours of electricity for the previous year and could no longer sleep with their eyes closed for fear of kidnapping.
“I believe that he should alter his economic strategies and rearrange his cabinet, substituting underperforming ministers with well-known and accomplished individuals who can bolster the economy,” Mr. Ogunmusire remarked.
According to Temidayo Temola, chairman of the OAUSTECH Chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mr. Tinubu’s administration has not restored the hope that Nigerians had in his campaign manifesto.
He claimed that the sharp rise in costs for products and services over the past year is devastating and annoying since “many of the things the masses could afford are no longer affordable.”
“I believe that he should alter his economic strategies and rearrange his cabinet, substituting underperforming ministers with well-known and accomplished individuals who can bolster the economy,” Mr. Ogunmusire remarked.
According to Temidayo Temola, chairman of the OAUSTECH Chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mr. Tinubu’s administration has not restored the hope that Nigerians had in his campaign manifesto.
He claimed that the sharp rise in costs for products and services over the past year is devastating and annoying since “many of the things the masses could afford are no longer affordable.”
Nothing much has changed in the education sector because university faculty members’ salaries have not been paid, and this situation remains hopeless. Mr. Temola stated that the president and his staff must sit down and work to find a long-term solution to the several issues at hand, including those pertaining to food, the exchange rate, security, power, and agriculture.
(NAN)
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