President Muhammadu Buhari’s honeymoon has ended and will fade away with 2015, with few days left till we all usher in 2016, Buhari's real test in office will begin.
The president has shown himself ready to ride out the storm into the coming year, with the presentation of his 2016 appropriation bill to the National Assembly last week.
However, as Buhari set out to achieve his goals and fulfill the electoral promises he made, NigerianEye handpicks 8 of his biggest challenges for 2016.
Winning Boko Haram war
After his swearing in, President Buhari gave his military commanders a December deadline to bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency that has ravaged parts of the North-East. Early in the week, he was quoted as saying that the Boko Haram insurgents have been “technically defeated.” This view was repeated by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who said that Boko Haram had been degraded to a level where they cannot hold on to any Nigerian territory.
These developments show a marked improvement from the past, when the insurgents controlled and hoisted their flags in many local governments in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. But despite the successes recorded, insurgents have continued to launch pockets of attacks, including suicide bombings, especially on civilians targets. Similarly, thousands of Nigerians are still being hosted in IDP camps in various parts of the country, because their communities have not been declared safe for them to return. One of the challenges Buhari will face in the new year is setting a realizable time-frame to clear the North-East of Boko Haram remnants for the displaced persons to return home. Closely related to this, is the handling of the problems of kidnapping and cattle rustling that are on the rise in parts of the country.
Anti-corruption fight
While Buhari's focus is glued at the misappropriation of funds for the purchase of arms by the immediate past administration, what is in store for other sector and individuals? Invariably, key arrears of the economy might be investigated too. This may include the petroleum and the federal ministry of finance. This is surely a task before the Presidency in 2016.
In the past, anti-corruption agencies have carried out investigations of corruption cases and charged suspects to courts, where the cases were lost, frustrated or abandoned.
The litmus test for Buhari’s war against corruption will be the number of cases uncovered, investigated, prosecuted and convicted, as well as the money recovered.
Fuel subsidy
As we enter 2016, Nigerians will be waiting for Buhari’s decision on the highly controversial subject of fuel subsidy. There have been calls for him to end the policy, which experts and many Nigerians have blamed for the crippling fuel scarcity sweeping across the country.
The consideration for the removal or not of oil subsidy would be a tough decision the presidency must take in 2016. Nigerians will watch closely to see whether or not Buhari can summon the political courage to put an end to it, so as to end the perennial problem of fuel scarcity and the attendant massive corruption associated with fuel importation.
Will Buhari probe Jonathan?
With his election hinged mainly on the fight against corruption, President Buhari has taken the matter head-on with the prosecution of retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (NSA) to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, over allegation of misappropriation of funds for the purchase of arms. Some of the arms deal were said to have been approved by former President Jonathan. But the presidency has so far not shown any interest in questioning Jonathan over the arms deal, even though a number of his associates have been arraigned over the matter.
The arms deal is just one of many areas Buhari would be probing and many other sectors may be investigated 2016, raising the question of what President Buhari would do with his predecessor. His media aide, Femi Adesina, recently said the President’s hands were not tied over Jonathan, describing the possibility of investigating the former leader as a bridge that they would cross when they get to it. Whether or not the administration will get to the bridge in 2016, Nigerians will wait and see.
Power supply
Over the years, providing adequate electricity has been a serious challenge in the country. There have been cases where various probe panels revealed huge sums of money were expended in the sector without commensurate development.
Even at that, President Buhari is expected to do more in the power sector next year.
How effective will Buhari's cabinet be?
President Buhari took a long time to get the right people to appoint as members of his cabinet. As expected key persons were assigned to “core” ministries in what the government considered its commitment to sustainable development. Nigerians are expecting so much from the cabinet. Among those saddled with key assignments upon whom Nigerians hinge their hopes are: Audu Ogbeh, Agriculture, Rotimi Amaechi, Transportation, Chris Ngige, Labour and Employment, Kayode Fayemi, Solid Minerals, Babatunde Fashola, Power, Works and Housing, Ibe Kachikwu, State for Petroleum and Isaac Folorunsho, Health. The president has made job creation, reviving of agriculture, development of infrastructure and solid mineral sector as the cardinal objectives of his government. This, therefore, put the spotlight on the performances of the ministers manning these portfolios.
Over the years, providing adequate electricity has been a serious challenge in the country. There have been cases where various probe panels revealed huge sums of money were expended in the sector without commensurate development.
Even at that, President Buhari is expected to do more in the power sector next year.
How effective will Buhari's cabinet be?
President Buhari took a long time to get the right people to appoint as members of his cabinet. As expected key persons were assigned to “core” ministries in what the government considered its commitment to sustainable development. Nigerians are expecting so much from the cabinet. Among those saddled with key assignments upon whom Nigerians hinge their hopes are: Audu Ogbeh, Agriculture, Rotimi Amaechi, Transportation, Chris Ngige, Labour and Employment, Kayode Fayemi, Solid Minerals, Babatunde Fashola, Power, Works and Housing, Ibe Kachikwu, State for Petroleum and Isaac Folorunsho, Health. The president has made job creation, reviving of agriculture, development of infrastructure and solid mineral sector as the cardinal objectives of his government. This, therefore, put the spotlight on the performances of the ministers manning these portfolios.
Decreased Naira value
The Naira has been on a steady fall for months, to its present rate of about N260 against the dollar. One of the biggest challenges for Buhari in the new year is how to stop the continuous decline of the naira, which ripple effects can affect the economic policy of his government.
Fufilling the campaign promises of President Buhari and the APC
Desirous of change, Nigerians have voted for the APC, whose mantra was anchored on the promise of “Change” in several aspects of the nation’s life.
During the electioneering campaign, President Muhammadu Buhari; his vice president, Yemi Osinbajo; and other top members of the party, made lots of promises to Nigerians.
Some of the promises , in no particular order include:
1. Public declaration of assets and liabilities
2. State and community policing
3. Ban on all government officials from seeking medical care abroad
4. Implementation of the National Gender Policy, including 35% of appointive positions for women
5. Revival of Ajaokuta steel company
6. Generation, transmission and distribution of at least 20,000 MW of electricity within four years and increasing to 50,000 MW with a view to achieving 24/7 uninterrupted power supply within 10 years.
7. Empowerment scheme to employ 740,000 graduates across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
8. Establishment of a free-tuition and scholarship scheme for pupils who have shown exceptional aptitude in science subjects at O/Levels to study ICT-related courses
9. 720,000 jobs by the 36 states in the federation per annum (20,000 per state)
10. Three million Jobs per year
11. [In another policy document by the APC] We will embark on vocational training, entrepreneurial and skills acquisition schemes for graduates along with the creation of a Small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme to create at least 5 million new jobs by 2019.
12. Churches and Mosques would not pay taxes under national laws, but if they engage in businesses, the businesses would pay tax.
13. Provision of allowances to the discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members for Twelve (12) months while in the skills and entrepreneurial development programme
14. Making our economy one of the fastest-growing emerging economies in the world with a real GDP growth averaging 10% annually. [In another instance, the APC promised 10-12% annual GDP growth]
15. Creation of a Social Welfare Programme of at least Five Thousand Naira (N5000) that will cater for the 25 million poorest and most vulnerable citizens upon the demonstration of children’s enrollment in school and evidence of immunisation to help promote family stability
16. Recruitment and training of at least 100,000 officers into the Nigerian police force and establish a Federal anti-terrorism agency.
17. One free meal (to include fruits) daily, for public primary school pupils
18. Building an airport in Ekiti state
19. Eradication of state of origin, replacing that with state of residence to ensure Nigerians are Nigerians first, before anything else.
20. Establishment of Crime Squad to combat terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, militants, ethno-religious and communal clashes nationwide
21. Working with the National Assembly towards the immediate enactment of a Whistle Blower Act
22. Economic stability for the ECOWAS nations and maintaining a strong, close and frank relationship with West Africa, South Africa, UK, USA, Canada, and other African countries
23. Establishing a conflict resolution commission to help prevent, mitigate and resolve civil conflicts within the polity.
24. All political officer holders earn only the salaries and emoluments determined and approved by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission RMFAC.
25. Permanent peace in the Niger Delta and other conflict prone areas such as Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi, Borno and Abia.
26. As against fears in some quarters, Buhari while speaking with catholic bishops in Abuja back in February, promised not to Islamise Nigeria.
27. Nationwide sanitation plans to keep Nigeria clean
28. Preserving the independence of the Central Bank
29. Simplifying immigration process to foster faster visa processing at points of entry.
30. Special incentives to facilitate the education of the girl child
31. Full implementation of the National Identification Scheme to generate the relevant data.
32. Making Information Technology, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Entertainment key drivers of our economy
33. Balancing the economy across regions by the creation of 6 new Regional Economic Development Agencies (REDAs) to act as champions of sub-regional competitiveness
34. Putting in place a N300bn regional growth fund (average of N50bn in each geo-political region) to be managed by the REDAs.
35. Amending the Constitution and the Land Use Act to create freehold/leasehold interests in land along with matching grants for states to create a nationwide electronic land title register on a state by state basis
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