In his mid-term report presented last week, President Goodluck Jonathan gave his administration a pass mark.“We have done well,” he said. But some lawyers disagree, saying the administration must buckle up to meet the people’s expectations in the remaining two years of its tenure. Adebisi Onanuga reports.
HOW has the Jonathan administration fared in the past two years? It has done well, says President Goodluck Jonathan in his mid-term report to mark the Democracy Day last Wednesday. Some lawyers disagree with this verdict, urging the administration to do more to better the people’s lot in its remaining time in office. For the President, the Democracy Day was an auspicious time to give an account of his administration. He told a gathering at the International Conference Centre, Abuja that his administration had performed “excellently” in the last two years.
Jonathan launched a document on the performance of his administration at the ceremony. At the event, were former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Second Republic President Shehu Shagari and former Head of Interim National Government Chief Ernest Shonekan, among others.
Jonathan said: “Today, we are marking the end of the first 24 months, which is our mid-term review and my duty is to formally present a document that all Nigerians will be able to read and assess us.”
He said the gathering was the perfect platform to formally present the document to all Nigerians on the activities of government in the past two years.
“I plead with all of us, especially those who want to assess and write about it, to develop criteria because without a marking scheme, you cannot mark any student’s paper. Two years of a government, this is what we have done; develop your marking scheme and score us”, he said.
Three officials gave a glimpse of what the report card looks like. They are Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim; Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, who gave the government a pass mark.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said remarkable progress had been made in the economy. According to her,Nigeria’s economy was strong and growing, and that foreign reserve is $50 billion, up from $32.08 billion in May 2011. She said due to the level of foreign reserve, foreign exchange had remained stable in the past two years. Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is one of the fastest growing in the world. The GDP growth in 2013 is expected to be at 6.5 per cent (NBS) or 7.2 per cent (IMF).
Inflation rate, she said, has slowed down to 9.1 per cent per cent from 12.4 per cent in May 2011. She said the focus of the government was to complete ongoing projects. Stressing the determination of the government to reduce the country’s debt, she said the government had begun retiring existing debts.
“We want to keep our debts at a very manageable level.”
The minister said the cost of government was reducing due to a policy to lower recurrent expenditure and complete unfinished capital projects. Recurrent expenditure dropped from 74.4 per cent of total budget in 2011 to 68.7 per cent in 2013 while annual borrowing has reduced from N852 billion in 2011 to N588 billion this year.
On expenditure, Dr Okonjo-Iweala said Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) have resulted in N118.9 billion savings on the payroll cost, and that 58 per cent of the budget was being executed through the introduction of the Government Integrated Financial Management and Information System (GIFMIS). Through the Treasury Single Account (TSA), she said the government’s overdrawn position has dropped from N102 billion in 2011 to N19 billion in 2012.
To prevent corruption in the various pension schemes, she said: “All the pension schemes are now coming under one roof to check abuses.”
On the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), she said last years, the Federal Government got N180 billion, states – N154 billion and local governments – N76 billion for various projects. Speaking on investment climate, the Finance minister said Nigeria had become the highest destination for investment in view of the improvement in the power sector, adding that the on-going privatisation would boost the power sector.
Usman, who gave an overview of the Transformation Agenda of the government, said: “Mr. President is actually setting a record in Nigeria. He is raising the bar.”
According to him, about eight of the 14 key objectives set by the administration in 2011 have been achieved by the government.
Anyim said the government should not only be assessed by the physical infrasructure in place now but that there are many intangible achievements that have been recorded in the past two years.
To Anyim, there have been stability and no interference with the legislature. He pointed out that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been receiving more funds towards procuring electoral materials, like permanent voters’ cards, among other things.
“We have recorded some progress, but a lot is yet to be achieved,” he said.
Much as the ministers spoke glowingly about the achievements of the administration of Goodluck Jonathnan, many Nigerians and lawyers have a contrary view of his administration, especially against the background of the unending killing of innocent Nigerians by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, high level corruption, the increasing rate of kidnappings and armed robberies, the reckless spending in government, all which appeared to have defied solution.
They also believe that determining whether a government had done well in office is better left to the people.
Speaking at the opening of the first Jigawa State Economic and Investment Summit at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Hall in Dutse, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said leadership was another cankerworm facing the country.
“You know you can help somebody to get the job, but you cannot help him to do it. If somebody cannot do the job, we have Sule Lamido who we are confident can do the job,” he told a crowd of would-be investors, dignitaries and ordinary folks.
He described the Boko Haram insurgency and the growing unemployment as a time bomb waiting to explode. Obasanjo said the government should have approached the Boko Haram insurgency the way he (Obasanjo) handled Odi (Bayelsa State) and Zaki Biam (Benue State) communities when he was the president.
Lagos lawyer Bamidele Aturu said the government had not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians.
His words:“People must understand that democracy is for us to stand up and demand what is right. This mid-term report that Jonathan has given is his own idea of setting the exam and giving himself marks.
“It is only a very funny student that would set exams for himself and give himself marks. To even give a mid-term report today is a sign of unseriousness from the Federal Government, you don’t mark yourself, let the people asses you. When you begin to asses yourself, then there is a fundamental problem.
“I am not saying this for Jonathan alone; I say it for all the leaders, even down to the local governments. Our leaders have failed us. My take on this is this: If you say you have achieved and Nigerians are not seeing your achievements who are you achieving for? This is a made up achievement, there is no doubt there are no achievements here. If he says he will shock us with his achievements we cannot be shocked again. What I want to say is this; our leaders have failed us, not just the President but leadership at all level. There is no development,” he added.
A lawyer, Ikechukwu Ikeji, said there could be no better marking scheme for performance than what one sees. Performance indicators or indices do not exist on the pages of a book or in the mouth of the person being assessed.
“Let’s take electricity, corruption, education, manufacturing, roads, to mention a few, as marking scheme. What existed before the present administration came to power and what exists now? Do we have a substantially improved electricity supply? The answer is no. We hear that they are struggling to achieve a meagre 10,000 megawatts by December 2014. What a shame, when South Africa has a reserve of more than 135,000 megawatts. Why can’t they work out a structured plan of getting the cities lit one after the other, for example, give Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja 24 hours supply, them move to other cities one after the other.
“Are we winning the fight against corruption? The answer is an emphatic no. In point of fact, there is presently no war against corruption, which has become institutionalised in Nigeria. What happened to the Ribadu report on petroleum income? Are our industries growing? The obvious answer is no. What has happened to the different steel industries? The only area of manufacturing that seems to have some level of relative sanity appears to be the cement industry with the Dangotes, the Lafarges and the Ibetos calling the shots. How about our refineries? They are moribund. What about our roads? We hear so much noise about plans to open up the rail lines but these exist more on paper than on geound. Opening up working rail lines will greatly boost the economy. Railway towns have historically been known as centres of development.”
Ikeji went on: “Of what use is government policy if the ordinary man on the street does not feel the impart, if it does not help in putting food on the table or providing employment or profitable business environment? he asked
Ikeji said what Jonathan presented surely do not measure up as dividends of democracy.
“In terms of doing well, I would say that the present state of emergency going on in three states is a plus. But beyond that, security challenges still remain a real threat”.
He said the government has continued to deceive the masses “and we are all suffering and smiling and the beat goes on. The few who find themselves in government become massively rich and mediocrity becomes a virtue while excellence is thrown aboard… Corruption remains endemic, it remains the rule rather than the exception. Culture of impunity thrives in the land while the poor citizens behold their leaders in overwhelming affluence”, he said.
To him, the President is just going through the motions like other past leaders without really impacting on the Nigerian situation and so the status quo remains and the problems mount.
As a way out, Ikeji suggested that the fight against corruption must take the front seat in all government activities. We should aim at building strong institutions and not strong personalities. If the President is not ready to step on toes, especially those of powerful interests, we should forget about redemption. We will continue to decay as a society, he noted.
Constitutional lawyer Ike Ofuokwu described the mid-term report as an economic abracadabra, that is: the more you look the less you see. The only thing glowing in the report is the audience and the language of the report. Any report that does not translate into putting food on the table of Nigerians is only worth the piece of paper on which it was written, he said.
“We want to see escalating issues of unemployment and insecurity addressed. We want to see all the billions expended on thepower sector translate into lights beyond Aso Rock. Nigerians want electricity in their homes and not lamps. We want the issues of decaying infrastructures particularly Federal roads properly addressed. We want to see a mid term report that de-emphasises swagger of Government Officials and highlights on their role as servants out to serve the people. We want a Government that will see to quality delivery of our health services instead of expending public funds in treating headaches overseas.
“Honestly, I sympathise with this administration because from what is on ground the next two years portrays a situation of hopelessness. The only meaningful expectation from them is a ‘do or die affair’ for 2015 election since all the permutations and activities in Government swings only towards that course,” Ofoukwu said.
Former Publicity Secretary, NBA Ikeja Branch, Samson Omodara, said: “There is virtually nothing to showcase other than weak governance that has permeated the entire national life accentuated by corruption and insecurity that is threatening our corporate existence.”
Managing Partner of TC Akanwa and Co., Mr Theophilus Akanwa, said: “What more do you expect from a politician than to blow his trumpet himself even when he knows within himself that he has done nothing, despite the huge financial resources at his beck and call.
“This administration has performed below expectation of the good people Nigeria. What is mid term report that tends to portray excellence in a paper work without physical realities?” he asked.
“The reality on ground is that corruption is not been fought. There is no security hence bokoharam, kidnapping of people even relations of those in the same govt. Imagine a Supreme Court justice’s wife and relatives being kidnapped. It is a shame!
“Cost of running business is so high because there is no electricity. We only hear of the drop of megawatts despite d huge resources. The roads are still death traps. Unemployment is on the rise and criminality springs up. Hunger is on the land. Nigerians are suffering.
“Let this government allow Nigerian masses to assess them by what we can see and not to venture into paper works”, he said.
Abuja based lawyer, Dr. Ahmed Sanusi remarked that one could be tempted to think that not much has been achieved under this administration in the last two years. This is so, when viewed on the scale of general insecurity in the land, growing unemployment, rising poverty level, poor infrastructure, among others.
He believes that the government has done well in upholding rule of law and human rights and dignity.
“People are no longer being killed unnecessarily by state agents because they share opposing views or are seen as threat to government in any form. You can remember what it was under Abacha and Obasanjo. The murder of Bola Ige and others have not been resolved till date. People are also not being arrested and detained arbitrarily for no just cause”, he said.
Sanusi noted that there is less interference in judicial proceedings, unlike what obtained under Obasanjo, where court decisions were subjected to Executive interpretation. In this instance, the Supreme Court decision in the case between the Lagos and the Federal Government over the withholding of the state’s local government allocation comes to mind. There also the Obasanjo government’s reluctance in obeying court judgment on the voiding of the impeachment of Ladoja as Oyo state governor.
He argued that to an extent, there is less federal government’s interference in electoral process. We have seen instances where the ruling PDP has lost election and the Federal Government did not make effort to influence it.
“So, in those areas, the government could be given a pass mark. But there is a lot to be done, particularly in the areas of power, security, employment, provision of social amenities, among others.
It is my hope that the government should be more tolerance of criticism, indulge in less of politics and focus more of delivering on its electoral promises in the next two years”, he advised.
ANPP National Financial Secretary, Alhaja Fatima Muhammed said that she does not know what is giving President Jonathan the confidence that he has performed in the last two years.
According to her, “things have gotten worse compared to when Jonathan got into power. I am not saying that he should be impeached, all I know is that by 2015, the country will be singing another song of victory. The PDP government has ruled for 14 years without improvement in the lives of the people. Nigerians are not enjoying the dividends of democracy.”
