Breaking: Atiku Abubakar Lists Six-Key Actions For President Bola Tinubu’s Success

Breaking: Atiku Abubakar Lists Six-Key Actions For President Bola Tinubu’s Success

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has outlined six crucial actions that President Bola Tinubu must take to ensure his success in office. The former Vice President provided this advice in a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday.

1. Pause and Reflect
Atiku stressed the importance of understanding necessary reforms and their proper sequence. He called for a clear framework with stated reform objectives and strategies.

2. Review the 2024 Budget
Atiku criticized the 2024 Federal Government Budget for failing to address the structural defects of the Nigerian economy and the cost-of-living crisis. He emphasized the need for fiscal measures to combat rising commodity prices and suggested easing restrictions on selected food imports.

3. Revise the Social Investment Programme (SIP)
He urged a comprehensive review of the SIP to mitigate the impact of economic policies on vulnerable households. The SIP should include support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and larger enterprises, particularly after the subsidy removal on PMS.

4. Avoid New Taxes
Atiku warned against introducing new taxes or increasing existing ones, such as VAT. Instead, he advocated for expenditure rationalization, improving revenue utilization, and reducing the size of government to lower the cost of governance.

5. Clarify the Fuel Subsidy Regime
He called for transparency regarding the fuel subsidy, its fiscal commitments, benefits, and its impact on the Federation Accounts. Atiku pointed out the ongoing fuel queues and black market activities, questioning the importation and distribution costs of PMS.

6. Address Security Concerns
Atiku highlighted the need to overhaul the nation’s security architecture. He noted that insecurity adversely affects agricultural production, particularly in the North, leading to food shortages and high prices. He referenced a Cadre Harmonize report warning that about 31.5 million Nigerians might face severe food shortages between June and August this year.

Atiku concluded by reaffirming his stance as a reform advocate and emphasizing his preparedness for reform challenges. He urged President Tinubu to change course and implement the necessary reforms for the nation’s benefit.