The Nigerian government says it is working hard to make life better for citizens of the country.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the declaration in Abuja during the launch of a forum known as Citizens Assembly, put together by the Officer of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement.
The Minister represented at the occasion by the Director General, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Dr Mohammed Bulama, noted that the various programmes and policies put in place by President Bola Tinubu are meant to improve the livelihood of Nigerians that voted him to power.
He said; “Some of the major milestones achieved by the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are by way of policies that touch the very essence of the Nigerian citizens. One of such is the N70, 000 minimum wage bill which was recently approved and has been transmitted to the President.
“The minimum wage will now be reviewed every three years contrary to what was obtained in the past which was five years. That will reflect and reconcile fresh economic realities and living standards with workers remunerations.”
“Another important milestone is the granting of autonomy to our local governments which has just been granted through the instrument of the Supreme Court judgement earlier this month. Before now, the practice was for the State governments through the joint account to appropriate and extra-appropriate the funds that are meant for the local governments but President Bola Ahmed Tinubu moved to implement the local government autonomy by approaching the Supreme Court for a decisive verdict,” he said.
The Minister listed other interventions of the government to include agricultural intervention to assist the poor and most vulnerable, suspension of tariff on some food items to address food inflation, conditional cash grants, Youth empowerment fund and technical talent hunt programme among others.
He called on the youths to take advantage of the numerous programmes being put in place by the government to empower them.
The Minister assured Nigerians that the results of these policies will be seen very soon as the government continues to work round the clock to make their lives better.
Secretary to the government of the Federation, George Akume, who also spoke through his Chief of Staff, Mr Christopher Tarfa, commended the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for convening the forum.
He said he has the daunting task of mobilizing more Nigerians to support the President, as he works hard towards addressing the challenges confronting the nation.
Senator Akume noted that the Citizens Assembly is a forum that highlights a promising journey towards greater citizen engagement in governance.
He used the opportunity to call on citizens to participate in shaping the future of Nigeria by supporting the government as well as contributing their quota towards nation building.
The Secretary to Government underscored the importance of diversity, as he urged Nigerians to unite and live in peace with one another in the interest of the nation.
Earlier in her address of welcome, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs Abiodun Essiet noted that the forum was meant to promote inclusivity in governance especially at the grassroots.
Mrs Essiet said; “Today, we gather to mark a significant milestone in our journey towards fostering inclusivity and grassroots representation in governance. On the 16th of September 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed six Senior Special Assistants on Community Engagement across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. This strategic initiative underscores President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to integrating diverse voices and perspectives into our decision-making processes, thereby enhancing community development and cohesion.”
“Community engagement plays a crucial role in building trust between the Nigerian Government and its citizens. It establishes a direct connection, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and considered in the corridors of power,” she said.
Mrs Essiet added that President Bola Tinubu is deliberate about bridging the gap that exists between the government and the governed.
“To bridge this gap, and key into Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve governance by promoting national cohesion through strategic engagement with citizens by initiating and implementing quarterly citizens and stakeholder engagement sessions to communicate government activities and serve as a feedback mechanism, my office initiated the Citizens Assembly for the North Central Region.,” Mrs Essiet added.