Today is the first of 2016, a year that is pregnant with promises and hope, with Nigerians wishing that the much talked about change would begin to reflect in their socio-economic lives. In this piece, JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH takes a look at key personalities that would drive the much expected change.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day”, says Edith Lovejoy Pierce. Or is it the words of Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom, another great mind, that “every New Year brings new expectations, new enthusiasms and new experiences”? These two sayings aptly describe the expectations and hope of every Nigerian in this New Year.

2016 has been tagged the year of change for Nigerians- the year in which we will be inching very close to our Utopia. The All Progressives Congress (APC) led government mantra of ‘change’ must begin to manifest this year, according to political pundits. The ball has been set rolling with the presentation of the 2016 budget by President Muhammadu Buhari. The budget itself is a blueprint on how the change will take place.

In the past years, expectations have been dashed and dreams not fulfilled. Owing of salaries by the federal and state governments became the norm rather than the exception. Fuel queues and scarcity became part of people’s daily lives. Bombings by the Boko Haram insurgents escalated rather than abating. In a similar vein, the rate of kidnappings rose up astronomically as it became a daily occurrence in most parts of the country.

In 2015, most Nigerians began to express dissatisfaction that the change they voted for was slow in coming but however express hope that with the 2016 budget, the much awaited change will manifest. But it appears, however, that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. With the coming of the New Year, most observers have pointed out that the change may practically happen in 2016, but the key personalities would have to be on top of their game in making the much needed change a reality. Below are antecedents of the people Nigerians are looking up to effect the change:

 

President Muhammadu Buhari

2016 will definitely be a year that will define Buhari’s presidency, a sink or swim year for the president. Buhari is seen as the man that will take Nigerian out of the pit of emptiness to the Promised Land- a Houdini by most of his ardent followers. Corruption and insecurity are seen as the monsters militating against growth and development in the country. President Buhari, is seen as that man that can tackle this problem due to his antecedents. Most Nigerians have expressed concern that if President Buhari fails to get it right, then Nigeria may never get it right again. The President must make some hard choices this year for Nigeria to record any meaningful development.

The question of fuel subsidy, should it stay or go; the fight against corruption, will he go all out to arrest those indicted of corruption even if it involves members of the president’s own party; the return of the Chibok girls, will Boko Haram become a thing of the past, are some of the major challenges and questions the president must answer this year.

According to the Economist, economic growth under the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari will be “uninspiring” in 2016. In the 2015 edition of its annual prediction of the economic situation of countries in an approaching year, the paper also said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will limit Buhari’s strides in the management of Nigeria’s oil sector.

In the Economist’s 2016 forecast for the Middle East and Africa, Buhari will address the problem of corruption and insecurity in the country. “The new president, Muhammadu Buhari, will use his political capital to address entrenched problems of corruption, insecurity and low living standards, but the patience of an electorate with high expectations will be short,” the forecast read.

“Clashing interests within the ruling party will limit efforts to improve management of the oil sector. Economic growth will be uninspiring.”

The onus is on President Buhari to prove the Economist wrong by driving the economy forward. The failure or success of his economic team depends solely on President Buhari as the buck stops at his table.

The advent of the social media has given rise to a more knowledgeable and impatient generation of Nigerians, the time is short, that’s is why it is imperative that President Buhari gets things right this year.

 

Yemi Osinbajo

The vice president, Yemi Osinbajo is regarded by many as the intellectual brain behind the change administration. By virtue of being the vice president, he is in charge of the National Economic Council (NEC). He is responsible for charting the economic plan for 2016. It’s no longer news that the economy of the country is tilting towards recession, as they say desperate times call for desperate measures. As a think tank of the economic team, the onus is on the vice president to formulate policies that will drive and revive the economy of the country.

A professor of law, Osinbajo is also expected in collaboration with the judiciary, to make the rule of law the watch word of the administration. The slow administration of the justice system in the country has been criticised by some cross section of Nigerians, as courts take forever to conclude a case. This they opine will have an adverse effect on the fight against corruption in the country.

The vice president had earlier reaffirmed the commitment of this administration in changing the lives of Nigerians and the time has come for us to be part of making sure that the change comes.

According to him, poverty in Nigeria is so disheartening, adding that Nigeria needs immediate fixing.

He further pointed out that the vast majority of people are poor and alienated from all the good things that the government ought to produce for them and it appears that they are well down the ladder.

“With change comes great expectations. Very high expectations. We believe in change and the need for a change in the way our economy is run. We are those called upon to fix it,” Professor Osinbajo said.

 

Senator Bukola Saraki / Yakubu Dogara

For the much needed change to happen this year, a vibrant National Assembly which will keep the executive on its toes is needed. That’s where Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Reps ,Yakubu Dogara come in. The independence of the legislature is key and a rubber stamp legislature will not be healthy for the polity.

The Senate and the House of Reps need to initiate new bills that will have an effect on the lives of average Nigerians. The seventh senate has been described as a waste of legislative years as they did not achieve anything meaningful in their four years.

The eighth assembly has promised to be different and is determined to change the lives of the ordinary man. The legislature must take the oversights seriously as oversight functions in the past were tagged as jamboree functions and avenue for blackmail by some lawmakers. If the Eighth National Assembly wants to be different, oversight must be taken seriously and the relevant committee of the National Assembly must ensure that the 2016 budget is implemented to the letter.

During the presentation of the budget, Senator President,Saraki assured the president that both chambers of the National Assembly are united in their support for his administration.

Saraki said the National Assembly is conscious of the yearning of Nigerians for quick delivery of democracy dividends adding that the legislature has a critical role to play and they recognize this role.

“We both recognize that even as we seek to maintain the integrity and independence of our respective chambers, that autonomy must be embedded within the overriding responsibility we all have, to improve the quality of lives of our people and make them proud once again to be Nigerians.”

Saraki observed that a harmonious National Assembly is essential not only to Legislative progress, but also for the Executive to function effectively and called on the President to take advantage of this relationship, which we have not had for a couple of years, to push through some of the necessary reforms that would promote our economy. He also said it is in this light that the National Assembly is also prioritising the passage of laws that further enhances our business environment and promotes accountability in governance.

“Let me assure you Mr President, that with the Eighth National Assembly, you have got a partner. An ally to help you steer the ship of state in the right direction for growth, transparency, accountability, equal opportunities, inclusion and fairness. We will stand by you and work with you to see Nigeria become the pride of all Nigerians home and abroad and earn the respect it deserves in the global arena, “he added.


Minister of State, Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, who also doubles as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is also one key personality that will drive the change agenda this year. The question of whether subsidy should stay or go will be one key decision the minister and the government must have to take. It’s worthy to note that Labour Unions have also threatened to strike if the government eventually removes subsidy.

Although the government has promised to diversify the economy in 2016, the Petroleum industry will still be one of the mainstay of the economy. With the revival of the Kaduna refinery coupled with the Port Harcourt refineries, Nigeria needs to import just 75 percent of its fuel.

Kachikwu stated that the country will still rely on 75 per cent importation of fuel throughout 2016.

The minister disclosed that Nigeria is still going to import fuel in 2016 and beyond in which the best case situation is 25 per cent local and 75 per cent importation. Worst case is what we are experiencing now.

“Until we begin to get individuals who can co-relocate, we are going to be doing a mixture of local and importation of fuel to meet up demands. In the next few weeks, however, queues will disappear in fuel stations.”

A new pricing template has also been drawn for petrol which would take effect from today.

The corruption in the sector is said to be one of the factors for the downward slide in the economy at the moment. The minister needs to draw out new policies in the oil and gas sector and fight corruption in order for the country to save money which can be put to use in other sectors.


Heads of FIRS, Customs and Immigration

President Buhari has said that based on fall in crude oil price, the federal government will focus on non- oil revenues by broadening the tax base and improving the effectiveness of revenue collecting agencies.

He expressed confidence that with the full implementation of the Treasury Single Account, he expects significant improvements in the collection and remittance of independent revenues.

Accordingly, he said in 2016, oil related revenues are expected to contribute N820 billion. Non-oil revenues, comprising Company Income Tax (CIT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Customs and Excise duties, and Federation Account levies, will contribute N1.45 trillion.

This he said will be done by enforcing strict compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 and public expenditure reforms in all MDAs, the government has projected up to N1.51 trillion from independent revenues.

For this to come to pass, heads of Federal Inland Revenue service (FIRS) Babatunde Fowler, Custom Boss, Hameed Ali, Immigration Boss, Martin Kure Abeshi will have to play critical roles in the move to diversify the economy from oil and make the 2016 budget realizable.

The three agencies in the past were referred to as bleeding points which had become conduits pipes for corruption.

The administration had promised that efforts will be intensified to block revenue leakages and enthrone due process, transparency and accountability.

Blocking of loopholes and leakages in this three revenue generating agencies will make the country less dependent on oil and realise its long awaited dreams of diversification.

http://leadership.ng/features/488097/2016-will-bring-change 

Lalasticlala

Happy New Year Everyone

midolian:
Happy New Year Everyone

First to comment on your own thread?



See him teeth.

I congratulate you with new hope, new joy, new beginnings, new ideas and possibilities! I wish you prosperity in the new year, success in everything, wealth, bright, cloudless days, comfort and warmth in a home of peace and goodness. New Year 2016 - a holiday of light that is able to translate into reality the dreams and desires. I congratulate you on the new year, I hope year 2016 you will have the time to do anything that is not already in the past.

Happy New Year.

Toh

Tallesty1:
First to comment on your own thread?



See him teeth.

lol..you know its unlike me. Just want to wish you guys a happy new year..

Except the Lord builds the House, the builders labour in vain. Certainly God has decided to build our house(Nigeria), those labourers mentioned above won't work in vain.
God is partnering Nigeria(Us) in this CHANGE agenda, so we are in for a great time in Nigeria.

Happy New Year!

May God lift Nigeria higher this year

Ok

yimu, these people don't care about us, they will only bring change to themselves. it's high time we all realised that

May d hard times u faced in d previous year be a stepping stone to higher ground.
Wishing u all a great, prosperous, bright, healthy, delightful, energetic and extremely happy days ahead.
Have a sparkling and rocking New Year.

including myself

Where my man fashola......?

Useless people still falling for the scam

. End time changer

.. Nice one .. check

The Video of the 19 year old Kano Girl with No Limbs ,,,... click to watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOzwxyvGlBo

Remove the snake saraki from the list he is PDP is APC clothing

2016 will be much different than last few years. What we have been through, including all our chaotic personal & collective challenges, was meant to prepare us for the upcoming positive shifts. For many of us, doors will begin to open and potentials will become realities in our love lives,careers,academic & more.


Wish everyone a fulfilled new year!

May God favour our efforts towards good.

I see a thief in this list

I was shocked when I first saw that name JONATHAN.
ahhhhhh. Hmmm Thank God it was d writer

They shoud just bring the change at the right time,Nigeria really need "change"

Happy New year...to all my padi and sweeties on nairaland

StfuareyouGod
Kingtom
Twaci
Adeh59
Naijaboy
Mymainyourmain
Mrsphyno kerosine
Lekinz
Kinglekan
Erukumakanaki
Laveda
Ronald4life
Mrschima
Iamkingzlee
Ishilove
Kwencypresh
Mzpecs
Mirexxx
And ...

Wait do u mean the change from d money dey embezzled

Oh I see, konti

saraki seems more to be on his way out so we don't consider him anymore vital for the change agenda.

they will bring change .but u forgot we have two types of change.so tell us if we should prepare ourselves for a positive or negative change

Happy new year !!!!

Check my signature thanks