APC claims that Buhari's cost-saving measures have saved Nigeria N1.4trn since May

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has saved Nigeria a whopping N1.4trn (£4.53bn) since assuming office with new measures introduced to combat waste and plug loopholes hitherto used as corruption conduits according to his party the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

On May 29, President Buhari assumed office with a promise to eliminate waste, combat corruption and reintroduce sanity into public finances. Since then, he has cut the size of presidential entourages, only drawn half his salary and promised that anyone found guilty of corruption will face the full wrath of the law.

 

Traditionally, Nigerian public servants have been known for their profligacy and squandermania and are regularly seen venturing abroad on expensive shopping trips, returning with goody-filled bags stuffed in private jets. According to the APC, measures introduced by the government to stop all this are making a difference to the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

 

APC publicity secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said: "Contrary to the disinformation being peddled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Buhari administration is poised to lift millions of Nigerians out of extreme poverty by providing social protection and safety nets with another N2.5trn special intervention fund. Also, the Buhari administration has been busy putting into place measures that will make it possible to start the implementation of other programmes including the introduction of the Treasury Single Account."

 

He assured Nigerians that the government would not renege on its campaign promise to pay N5,000 each monthly to 25m vulnerable youths. Alhaji Mohammed called on Nigerians to ignore what he called the mischievous attempt by the opposition PDP to confuse and mislead them on this issue.

 

Earlier this week, the matter led to a split in the senate, which APC senators voting against a proposal to introduce the measure. PDP senators who voted in favour of the immediate implementation of the measure, accused the APC of reneging on its campaign promise.

 

According to Alhaji Mohammed, the party the PDP-led federal government plundered the common wealth in its time but the APC has devised creative means not only to pay the money but also to fulfil its other campaign promises to Nigerians. He added that the non-implementation of the payment policy so far is due to the fact that it was not included in the 2015 budget, which was prepared by the PDP-led Jonathan administration and also because of the need to first block all financial leakages.