Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC),Senator Ayo Arise has said that full decentralisation of key sectors remains the only option to revamp the ailing economy .
He also charged government to embrace the habit of credit financing, stressing that ” it is an easy way to find solutions to others problems facing Nigeria as a nation .
The businessman cum politician in a chat with newsmen urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the Power , the Security and the Petroleum sectors of the economy are fully decentralized
He explained that doing so will naturally address some challenges confronting the nation like youths unemployment, insecurity and high cost of petroleum products.
Senator Arise argued that “we must begin to disabuse our minds .Nigeria has become so big for anybody to run from the centre .If you don’t decentralised the problem will continue to make, even the president unpopular. The states must begin to generate their own electricity. What is happening in Abia State is a welcome development, and I think that the way to go if we are ready to tackle the power crisis once and for all.
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Specifically, Senator said it is high time government encouraged more private individuals to set up modular Refineries inorder to address the energy crisis in the country.
The senator who represented Ekiti North Senatorial Distirct between 2011-2015 also expressed joy that the call for State Police is gaining currency in the National Assembly.
The former legislator urged the lawmakers to expedite action on the matter inorder to curb the incursions of bandits and terrorists.
According to him ,”If state police is allowed to function ,a number of our youth will be engaged. You can imagine every state having their own po,ice ,ditto the University ,many of our youths risking the streets will be recruited.
The APC stalwart also cautioned the organised Labour Unions against frequent confrontations with government .”It is not right to be calling Nigerians to the streets each time you want government to fulfil certain obligation .I think the best approach is to sit down with government and see how you can work with government. The moment youn start disrupting the economy you will end making more people poorer .
“”All I can say that, I wish Mr President well and pray that many of the policies he is putting in place will work. And I believe strongly that these policies would work ,if Mr President is able to curb corruption and fight saboteurs. If we respect our laws and ensure that the laws did not only count for the poor people but for everybody. Certainly, Nigeria will become a great nation .I have seen the efforts and commitments of Mr President towards making Nigeria better.
“The Tinubu team is trying it’s best to respond to all these challenges and ensure that the country get better .But one of the few things ,I will suggest to the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) is that he should go back to the books and find a way of reducing that interest rate. Because there is no way you can produce ,if you are taking loan from the Bank at percentage.
“Removal of subsidy .People get documentation for subsidy ,after collecting the subsidy manual ,they will divert the products to some of these West African countries and sell at profits .So, it was a business that, any criminally,y minded person would make stupendous wealth from at the expense of the ordinary Nigerians. Now deregulation has cut up with them and Nigeria is now on the average of 1500 – 1600 per dollar. As a businessman and politician, I manage my views On one hand ,if Naira is stabilised ,the people will know that this is what they need to make their plan on and they wil adjust.But the gyration of deregulation which is left to market forces can now becomes a burden for Nigeria as a developing nation. Because if we dont produce, we do not have the foreign reserve to support our expenditure .And this is about International trade .
“Nigeria and Nigerians trade with other nations,and you dont make enough to be able to pay for the loans acquired over the years or support our ,letters of credit, ot becomes a problem for the government. What is on the ground requires everybody’s contributions. I dont think it is will be fair to leave these problems entirely with the President.
“This is because, if we are not careful ,it may defy every reasonable solution ,from what other nations with similar experience go through in the past .I have always looked from a far that why can we ,as nation ,have convertible currency.?And at the same reason why cant we have food regulation?It is the scarcity of the dollar which is the common denominator for all currencies in the world for now .Of course,gold is there ,nobody is going to be keeping gold in his or her house .You still need to be able to spend the money or have a medium of exchange” Arise warned .
On anti- corruption crusade ,Senator Arise commended the various policies initiated by the current administration to fight graft but enjoined government to do more in reducing corruption in the system .
“Even if you increase the salaries, that may not stop corruption, because the greed instinct in some people would make them to take bribe. The problem with the younger generation is that they look at what you have achieved over years and want to surpass that achievement in one day .The level of greed in the system is incredible .Anybody that comes to either government or public service is looking for loopholes to shortchange the system. Even where laws exist they are looking for ways to subvert the laws .You look at this country and ask yourself, what does an agreement worth ? Even of you feel,you are being wronged, where do you want to go?.
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