Championing the change agenda
Since Nigeria’s return to democracy our electoral process has experienced increasing stability, with more and more credible people not just coming forward to be elected into office, but also taking to the polls with complete confidence in the strength of their votes. However, what happens when the elections are over? Do we dust off our […]
Since Nigeria’s return to democracy our electoral process has experienced increasing stability, with more and more credible people not just coming forward to be elected into office, but also taking to the polls with complete confidence in the strength of their votes. However, what happens when the elections are over? Do we dust off our palms and sit back passively, considering the deed done for the next four years? Or, do we continue to take active ownership of our mandate by driving the government we desire, the one we truly deserve?
Organising for Change is a movement that involves Nigerians coming together to advance the change agenda. We are community organizers mobilising our fellow Nigerians to support and defend the change government they voted for. Through advocacy and training, we hope to inspire a new generation of community organisers and leaders to champion the progressive ideals and values on which our thriving democracy is being nurtured.
It has become imperative that progressive Nigerians start to speak up and make their voices heard. We must, in contrast to the detractors, highlight and promote the strides the CHANGE Agenda has achieved -boosting the economy and providing an enabling environment for more growth both in the short and long terms.
In the last four years, the Buhari administration has strived to keep its campaign promises, and has made progress in the areas of anti-corruption, social investment, agriculture, infrastructural development, the power sector, and security amongst others. These achievements need to be highlighted and celebrated, especially as 2019 draws near.
Anti-corruption: This government resumed in 2015 with a commitment to tackle corruption in every sector of economy. In under a year giant strides were achieved with the recovery of misappropriated loot totalling billions of naira, as well as the prosecution of former and serving government officials who chose to enrich themselves at the expense of the people.
Insecurity: The war against insurgency in North East Nigeria took a definitive turn towards victory soon after this administration came to power. In March 2015, the Nigerian military had taken back eleven of fourteen districts previously controlled by the Boko Haram terrorist group. By December of that same year, the war which had raged on unabated for close to six years had technically come to an end.
Infrastructural Development: One of this administration’s biggest achievements has been in infrastructural development. Some noteworthy projects being constructed, completed or renovated by this administration include: the 156km Standard Gauge Lagos/ Ibadan Rail project, the Idu Railway Station Abuja, the Itakpe/Ajaokuta-Warri Train line, the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, the Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Terminal etc.
Electricity: By the end of 2018, the power sector has recorded more than 2,000MW of additional power generation capacity via publicly owned plants (Afam Fast Power, 240MW) and private sector investment supported by the federal government (Azura, 450MW). Transmission, expansion and rehabilitation programmes have resulted in a 50 per cent expansion in grid capacity since 2015, from 5,000MW to 7,125MW. The Distribution Expansion Programme (DEP) was also launched to deliver 2,000MW of unused power capacity to consumers.
Agricultural Development: Initiatives such as the Anchors Borrowers Programmes, the Presidential Fertilisers Initiative, Youth Farm Lab, Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative and the Food Security Council has ensured maximum growth in the agricultural sector for both old and new investors.
Social investment: As of 2017, government had spent N41, 714,793,293 billion on Social Investment Programmes (SIPs. They include the N-Power initiative which caters for unemployed graduates, the Home Grown School Feeding (HGSFP), Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and Government Enterprises Entrepreneurship Programme (GEEP). All these programmes are accessible in the 36 states of the federation. Under N-Power, unemployed graduates receive a stipend of N30,000 each month; GEEP, which was designed for the empowerment of market women, traders and artisans has seen the disbursement of 57,234 interest free loans.
Economic growth: The economic growth has been on a steady rise since the assumption into power of this administration. Thanks to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), which was launched by President Buhari in April 2017, the macroeconomic environment has stabilised, agricultural and food security has been made possible, energy efficiency ensured especially in power and petroleum products.
From the above, it is clear that the CHANGE Agenda is truly working. Therefore, it is our duty as Nigerians concerned with the progress of our country to continue to champion, support, and protect it. As adversaries try to roll back the hard-fought progress, millions of Nigerians have worked hard for, we’re reminded that defending it will require us to stand together again and resist their negative campaign to help bring communities together and take on some of the most important political fights of our time that require forging a common progressive front.
Galadanchi, the Executive Director of Organizing for Change, wrote this piece from Abuja