A member of the House of Representatives, Hussaini Jallo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to assemble a sound economic team that will rescue Nigeria from its present economic challenges.
Jallo, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Pension, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja when the Chief Executive Officer of XEM Consulting Limited, Dr Eugenia Ndukwe, paid him a visit in commemoration of the 2024 Democracy Day.
He said the present administration should pay more attention to issues concerning the generality of Nigerians; especially food security and economic recovery, rather than paying attention to what would benefit only a group of people.
“The founding fathers of this nation did very well for Nigeria but unfortunately, things are not going the right way and I think the best way is for Tinubu to quickly organise a good economic team for the country and also the nation’s security.
“These are the major challenges facing the country–security and economy; once the president can solve these problems, we are good to go.
“We are celebrating uninterrupted democracy but we are not on the right track yet.
“We cannot celebrate democracy in the midst of hunger, poverty and unemployment.
“Nigerians are suffering; people need to go back to their villages and see how people are suffering there; some don’t eat, not even one square meal a day.”
He noted that the labour demand for a minimum wage was just a fraction compared to the millions of Nigerians that need succour.
“The situation in the country now is not about what organised labour is demanding; it is if the government has the capacity to pay.
“What is the number of people in federal and state governments’ employment compared to the general population of the country.
“Nigerians are in need of good health, good education, food security and security of lives and property.
“If the president takes the proceeds of our mineral resources to pay a minimum percentage of Nigerians who are working for government, what happens to the larger population of the people that need road, education, health and security that are not government employees?
“The amount demanded by organised Labour is unrealistic especially now that Nigeria is picking its pieces in the area of security and other challenges.
“I believe that they should accept whatever the government presents to them now, so that the country can move forward.”
Jallo assured that the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas would work with the executive arm to achieve the desired goal of the present administration.
“We are partners in progress with the executive arm of government and whatever comes from the president and it is for the benefit of Nigerians, will be given a speedy attention at the House.
“Just as the president said he would forward the bill for the minimum or living wage to the National Assembly, we will give it an expedite action.
“The challenges faced by Nigerians are also the challenges of the National Assembly because the speaker talks about the hunger of many Nigerians, unemployment, insecurity and the rest.
“So, I urge the president to marshal out plans to solve these challenges of insecurity and bad economy,” Jallo said. (NAN)
