At work at last
After six months, Nigeria’s president no longer leads alone
Nov 21st 2015

THE law was laid down for Nigeria’s ministers when they were sworn into office last week. No corruption, their austere president, Muhammadu Buhari, told them. Obey the law and work together, because expectations are high. Behave in keeping with the times. Refrain from gaudy displays of wealth (“Not that some of us have much to display,” one appointee laments).

It has taken almost six months for the former dictator, now elected, to install his cabinet, but for those who made the cut his message is simple: winning high office is no longer a licence to rob the public purse. Unlike many of their predecessors, the new ministers must prioritise reform.

Many observers are optimistic that they can do so. Mr Buhari’s cabinet is smaller than that of the previous president, Goodluck Jonathan, with 25 principal ministers and 12 junior ones. Several of his senior appointees have good track records. Babatunde Fashola, the respected former governor of Lagos state, has been handed a monumental portfolio combining power, public works and housing. Another ex-governor, Kayode Fayemi (pictured, left, with the president), is charged with developing mining operations as Nigeria rushes to broaden its economy away from oil. Fans of a third seasoned politician, Rotimi Amaechi, who won the transport post, say he has delivered roads despite accusations of corruption, which he denies.


Yet the president has failed to please all as he juggles the demands of his party and people. His decision to keep the oil post for himself, while appointing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s new head as his deputy, was designed to keep the valuable resource in hands he can trust. But it raises concerns over the centralisation of power. Ethnic groups of the south-east who mostly voted for Mr Jonathan in this year’s election are feeling neglected. Critics also fret over an absence of desperately needed financial expertise.

Africa’s biggest economy, which relies on oil for 70% of its revenue, is sputtering as prices fall. Economic policy has been adrift since Mr Buhari came to power, and investors complain about the central bank’s use of trade controls and import restrictions. However, the new finance minister, an accountant who cleaned up the books of one of Nigeria’s smaller states, is poorly qualified for the job. Her counterpart in the investment ministry is a respected businessman, but he may lack the clout to stand up to a president with statist leanings. “It’s a government with local professionals and without superstars,” says Shehu Sani, a senator of the ruling party.


[b]Still, Nigerians find much to be happy about. Boko Haram, an insurgent Islamist group, has been weakened during Mr Buhari’s half-year at the helm (though bombs this week killed 43 people), and power supplies are somewhat more reliable. A bigger budget has been outlined for 2016, though it is unclear how it will be financed, and recurrent spending will be pared back. More heartening is the president’s crusade against corruption.
Staff have been fired from the state oil company and customs department. Officials are tackling smuggling along leaky borders. To reduce fraud, an opaque network of government bank accounts has been replaced by a centralised system. Several politicians, including the president of the Senate, a former oil minister and an ex-national security adviser, are under investigation. Meanwhile, biometric registration at banks should expose more money laundered by civil servants and their stooges. High-rollers are on their best behaviour. Lamudi, a property company, reports a slowdown in expensive sales, partly explained by the fact that the rich would rather not be seen splurging.
[/b]


http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21678776-after-six-months-nigerias-president-no-longer-leads-alone-work-last?fsrc=scn/tw/te/pe/ed/atworkatlast

The Areas Buhari Has Covered According the Economist Include:

1. Boko Haram, an insurgent Islamist group, has been weakened during Mr Buhari’s half-year at the helm (though bombs this week killed 43 people),

2. Power supplies are somewhat more reliable.

3. A bigger budget has been outlined for 2016, though it is unclear how it will be financed, and recurrent spending will be pared back.

4. More heartening is the president’s crusade against corruption.
Staff have been fired from the state oil company and customs department. Officials are tackling smuggling along leaky borders.

5. To reduce fraud, an opaque network of government bank accounts has been replaced by a centralised system.

5. Several politicians, including the president of the Senate, a former oil minister and an ex-national security adviser, are under investigation.


6 .Meanwhile, biometric registration at banks should expose more money laundered by civil servants and their stooges. High-rollers are on their best behaviour. Lamudi, a property company, reports a slowdown in expensive sales, partly explained by the fact that the rich would rather not be seen splurging.


With Muhammadu Nnamdi Buhari As Our President , Nigeria Is Now On The Wheel To Greatness!

[size=14pt]Please Take A Bow Sir![/size]

lalasticlala biko e don happen

SAI BABA always on point anytime any day. One day Nigeria will be great again !!!

I pity any pdp member wey go read this news.......... Dem go dey heartbroken

Typing with phone charged with VERY EXPENSIVE fuel and enjoying darkness... where did they see the improved power supply

If fuel scarcity is progress,if retrenchhment from jobs is progress,if serious hardship is progress to you OP,then may we never see your said 'progress'


You are now getting blind folded with love for a man who can't even pronounce the word 'five' correctly

holyFRED:
[s]If fuel scarcity is progress,if retrenchhment from jobs is progress,if serious hardship is progress to you OP,then may we never see your said 'progress'


You are now getting blind folded with love for a man who can't even pronounce the word 'five' correctly [/s]

Take Handkerchief!

NgeneUkwenu:
lalasticlala biko e don happen

Economic policy has been adrift since Mr Buhari came to power, and investors complain about the central bank’s use of trade controls and import restrictions. However, the new finance minister, an accountant who cleaned up the books of one of Nigeria’s smaller states, is poorly qualified for the job. Her counterpart in the investment ministry is a respected businessman, but he may lack the clout to stand up to a president with statist leanings. “It’s a government with local professionals and without superstars,” says Shehu Sani, a senator of the ruling party APC

.

Stolen:
This is more of a saving face article after Gov Ambode of Lagos State insulted the Economist for their earlier publication.

I will not read too much into this. Seems more political than Economic.

See Mumu!

maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad people

We thank God for cutting down the opponents 60 years of fake promises to 16 years.

I heard they said we are slow. Yes, we didn't campaign to be fire fighters, but planners and meticulous one at that.

Mr President you started well, you hit the ground running even though the ground was murky.

You promised Nigerians you will address security and your first meeting to ECOWAS was on security because we cannot fight alone. You have been to other places.

If they said it is a ludo, we will tell them it's a serious business.
If they forget G7 we will remind them.

We have faith in you Mr President.
We have faith in your capacity and uprightness.

We promise to continue be with you and support you no matter what they are saying we are not reruning the election until the next 4 years time.

Mr President your hands are on the plough and you'll succeed.

the progress neva reach my side o

Mehn OP, u wan kill those biafra people, am sure they won't like this... The Zoo must fall.. Awon Werey

NgeneUkwenu:

Take Handkerchief!

May blindness elude you.... Abeg say Amen cos na better i dey wish you

sammyj:
SAI BABA always on point anytime any day. One day Nigeria will be great again !!!

As buhari leads the battle from front as a competent general https://www.nairaland.com/2748728/benin-republic-invades-kwara-nigeria

What more can I say?

holyFRED:
If fuel scarcity is progress.
if retrenchhment from jobs is progress.
if serious hardship is progress to you OP, then may we never see your said 'progress'!!!


You are now getting blind folded with love for a man who can't even pronounce the word 'five' correctly

NgeneUkwenu:
lalasticlala biko e don happen

lalasticlala biko, buhari is working, wailers are wailing, saTANist are crying of witch hunting, nigerians are happy and hoping of greater tomorrow

Lol


The economist has never been a standard publication to be used as an authority to source genuine information or reality.


We are Nigerians and have seen nothing since the new government except bloodshed, increasing poverty, lack of essential commodities and of course outright propaganda.

FYI the last time I voted a presidential candidate was 1999

Whynotthetruth:
Typing with phone charged with VERY EXPENSIVE fuel and enjoying darkness... where did they see the improved power supply

come to my zone, we have light, at least for 15h a day,

Following...

When the Economist wrote against Buhari, you rats were crying foul and condemning the media outfit. Suddenly, they have sounded politically correct and you are shamelessly pouring accolades. Truly, Nigeria loves lies.

PDP/Biafra touts won't be happy about this.

God bless Nigeria and make it an indivisible entity forever and ever. Amen.

NgeneUkwenu:
lalasticlala biko e don happen

see this deluded mgbeke still 'promising' after 6months

Hmm lalasticlala I don't know why you are pretendinG not to see this thread..

Koboko69 Omenka Donphilopus egift arresa

SeunPlus:
PDP/IPOD touts won't be happy about this.

God bless Nigeria and make it an indivisible entity forever and ever. Amen.

Fixed.

why wont they make.progress .. when they sit in ac tight offices in the USA and tell us we r progressing... do they know the hardships people are going thru. while the common man was still.looking for fuel. they banned his only source of electricity witho options... so propaganda wont work this time around. they shud better go and fulfill their bogus campaign promises