President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working hard to improve the welfare of Nigerians through sound policies and programmes, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said. The minister said this Monday in Abuja during the launch of a forum known as Citizens Assembly, put together by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Minister, who was represented by the Director-General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Dr Mohammed Bulama said various programmes and policies put in place by president were meant to improve the livelihood of Nigerians that voted him to power.
“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.
He assured Nigerians that the results of the policies would be seen soon as the federal government continues to work round the clock to make their lives better.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the government of the Federation, Mr George Akume, commended the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for convening the forum.
The SGF, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Christopher Tarfa, said the Citizens Assembly is a forum that highlights a promising journey towards greater citizen engagement in governance.
He called on the citizens to participate in shaping the future of Nigeria by supporting the government as well as contributing their quota towards nation building.
The SGF underscored the importance of diversity, and urged Nigerians to unite and live in peace with one another in the interest of the nation.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs Abiodun Essiet, said the forum was meant to promote inclusivity in governance especially at the grassroots.
“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 Federal 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.
She said the president was 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,” she said.