The Federal Government has accused governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of contributing to the current hardship in the country.
The central government stated that many of the PDP governors have failed to fulfil their obligations to their citizens in the payment of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ gratuities.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement made available to The Star on Tuesday February 13, 2024, said that the PDP Governors have also failed to take concrete steps to increase food production in their states and address the rising costs of living.
The minister stated that the Federal Government is not averse to constructive criticism.
Idris, however, stated that the PDP governors missed the point by comparing Nigeria’s economy to that of Venezuela.
The PDP Governors had on Monday in Bauchi State lampooned the Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government for failing to address the economic and security challenges in the country.
In a communique read by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, the PDP governors declared that Nigeria’s economy is going the way of Venezuela’s.
Venezuela’s economy has been in total collapse since 2013 with a debt burden of over $150 billion and 100% inflation.
However, the APC-led government dismissed the position of the PDP governors.
Idris said: “It is on record that most states controlled by PDP owe workers and pensioners months of unpaid salary and pension arrears. The PDP Governors have defaulted in paying gratuities to their retired workers. It is also a fact that many of the PDP Governors have not paid N30,000 minimum wage to their workers since it took effect more than four years ago. All of these anomalies in their states contribute significantly to the economic pressure their citizens face.
“If PDP governors are genuinely interested in the living conditions of Nigerians and are not just stirring up disaffection and ill-will towards the federal government, we urge them to meet their obligations to workers, pensioners, and local contractors and see the multiplier effect.
“It is disappointing that PDP Governors talk about rising costs of living and food when they have not done much to increase food production in their states. The land in Nigeria belongs to the states, not the Federal Government.
“PDP Governors, in their communique yesterday, did not tell Nigerians how they are supporting farmers in their states to boost food production – a responsibility that is strictly within their purview. Instead, they shift all the blame to the Federal Government, while shirking their own responsibilities to the people they govern.”
The minister stated that as members of two important constitutional organs of government – the National Economic Council and the National Council of States – the PDP governors failed to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their roles as leaders.
Idris said: “It is far-fetched when PDP governors, who are supposed to be major players in driving economic growth and prosperity for our citizens in their respective states, mischievously and falsely compare our current economic challenges to Venezuela.
“We want to state categorically that though our country is going through some rough patches, which are being addressed by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, our situation is nowhere near what is happening in Venezuela.
PDP govs to Tinubu: Cost of living going high, address economic hardship
“The Nigerian economy is still very strong and is expected to record a 3% GDP growth this year. The economy is meeting financial obligations to lenders at home and abroad.”
The minister stated that the Nigerian government is running effectively, paying all its bills while maintaining a healthy trade balance with trading partners worldwide.
The Tinubu-led government berated the PDP governors for misinforming Nigerians.
According to Idris, “While opposition politicians are expected to play politics, it should be done within the bounds of truth and fidelity to facts. It is unconscionable of PDP Governors to manipulate facts and misinform Nigerians about our country’s true state of affairs.
“Since President Tinubu assumed office, the revenue available to the three tiers of government has more than doubled. All 36 States, including the 774 Local Governments, have been receiving significantly larger allocations on the back of the reforms being pursued by President Tinubu to reposition our national economy.
“Nigerians should ask PDP Governors how far and how well they have utilised the increased revenue to better the lives of Nigerians in their respective states.”
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