Why do I support GEJ/PDP - By Kalu Ajah 1.Ideology. The PDP has pursued a policy of small government and handing over critical parts of the economy to the private sector. Eg power, Telecoms even Pensions. The other side has a candidate that holds Socialist views. Under him the economy had price controls and central economic management. This led to Nigeria experiencing a negative GDP growth rate in 1984. 2. Education The GEJ/PDP have pursued a policy of educational empowerment. Universal Basic Education are programmes of the Federal Government even though constitutional these are state arena LGA responsibilities. Under GEJ all states have Universities, Education has become the single highest recepiant of federal budget appropriations. TETFUND also a critical component of the education fabric Under GEJ for the first time a formal methodology has been enacted to deal with the street kids called Almajari. Educate the Alamajiri and poverty dissapears. The other side has a candidate who has no record of building or presenting an educational plan whist in office and during his tenor 3m kids of primary age were on the streets and primary school enrollment fell. 3. Infrastructure Under the PDP/GEJ the nation stepped into the digital age with mobile phones and satellite communications to mention a few Under GEJ adminstration the nations key economic roads of Apapa port to Oshodi, Lagos to Ibadan, Lagos to Delta, Onitsha to Owerri, Kano to Maiduguri, Ibadan-Ilorin etc are now receiving attention. Under the PDP/GEJ, the rails now work; narrow and standard guage. There are now rails into Apapa port to carry Containers as far inland as Kano Under the PDP/GEJ 10 brand new power plants have been built under the NIPP initiate to add almost 5000mw in gas fired power to the national grid. The other side has a candidate who cannot point to a cannot identify any significant infrastructure initiave during his tenure. The other side has a candidate who stopped the Lagos Metroline. The other side controlled the largest economic city of Lagos; yet the state government cannot boast of adding 400mw to the national grid in in years! Ie 10% of what NIPP has added 4. Fiscal policies Under the PDP/GEJ the Nation has seen an uptick in non oil revenues via taxation . In thr 2015 budget proposal; the non oil revenue projection is almost almost pat with the oil revenue projection. Nigerians received a tax break via the increase in the Personal Income Allowance. Thr other side has promoted a tax and spend policy. In the largest economic city of Lagos, the inner roads and bridges are tolled and business taxes have multipled. Taxes are good but multiple taxes are a deterrent to small business. (In lagos business pay a 5% sales tax on consumption in addition to a VAT tax on consumption) Under the PDP/GEJ the nation created a saving account for the first time in the history of Nigeria called The Sovereign Wealth Fund. Its on record the other side has sought to render this account null and void and distribute the funds therin to be spent. 5. Agriculture Under GEJ/PDP the nation has steadly reduced the amount paid for food imports. Nigeria has successfully implemented a cassava to wheat substitution policy. Nigeria is the worlds largest producer of Cassava and yams. Agriculture exports are up, credit to agriculture has gone up, fertilizer access to farmers is up. The other side has a candidate under whom Nigerians has to queue to buy Sugar, milk and other essential commodities. To be continued
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:18:30 +0000
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