The Federal Ministry of Information & National Orientation has issued a scathing criticism against the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governors, accusing them of misrepresenting the country’s economic situation.
In a press statement released on February 13, 2024, the Ministry slammed the PDP governors for their recent press conference in Abuja where they discussed the nation’s economic and security challenges.
According to the Ministry, while acknowledging the PDP governors’ call for a bipartisan approach to addressing national issues, they asserted that the governors failed to fulfill their roles as leaders. They accused the PDP governors of unfairly comparing Nigeria’s economic challenges to that of Venezuela, labeling such comparisons as “far-fetched” and “mischievous.”
The Ministry highlighted Nigeria’s projected 3% GDP growth for the year and emphasized that the country’s economy remains strong despite the challenges it faces. They credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for doubling the revenue available to the three tiers of government, resulting in increased allocations to states and local governments.
However, the Ministry pointed out that many states controlled by the PDP have failed to utilize these increased revenues effectively. They accused PDP governors of owing workers months of unpaid salaries and pension arrears, as well as failing to implement the N30,000 minimum wage for workers. The Ministry also criticized the governors for neglecting their responsibilities to support farmers and boost food production in their states.
Meanwhile, the Ministry praised the efforts of the All Progressives Congress-led administration under President Tinubu in addressing security threats and stabilizing the exchange rate. They highlighted recent successes in combating terrorism and rescuing abducted Nigerians.
The Ministry also called on the PDP governors to work with President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to restructure the economy.
