SDP presidential candidate Adewole, lashes at gov’t, says Nigerians are cashless, policy senseless

By Daniel Dauda, Jos

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo said Nigerians are currently cashless because the federal government’s policy is senseless and making life expectancy very low.

Adewole said the government has lost its threshold as it is only collecting seven per cent lower than what it is supposed to be collecting as revenue drive.

According to him, that was the reason “why there is more money in politics than governance.”

The SDP presidential candidate made the remarks during a parley at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos, on Thursday.

Adewole promised that if he emerged as president come 25th February 2023, he would focus on revenue.

He stated that it was the reason he “challenged everyone to come to argue with [him], that we [the Nigerian government] are only collecting about seven per cent of the revenue that is due for the government.”

“The procurement policy in the present government is very poor. We are misdirecting our spending on things that are not beneficial to the people,” he said. 

“And because the procurement is over-flicking, that is why there is a conflict with our national development plan,” he continued. 

Adewole promised to eliminate deficit finance.

The SDP standard bearer also announced a plan to create a million job opportunities for Nigerians by diversifying the economy through the use of modern technology.

“This is the time for Nigerians to form a government by critically listening to the issues and vote wisely for the leader that would salvage the country from its present predicament, devoid of religious or ethnic sentiments”, he stated.

The Director General of NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo acknowledged that the institute has followed the Chatham House attribution.

Omotayo said that it is one of the core mandates of the institute to always engage political parties and their candidates, especially now that the country is heading to an election.

According to the DG, “instead of going to Chatham House, the candidates should come to NIPSS and share their blueprint with Nigerians because the elections are held in Nigeria, not abroad.” 

“I want to ensure the institute achieves more visibility under my leadership. So, Nigerians, most especially the policymakers should feel free and come to NIPSS as it is not a place for punishment, but rather to find lasting solutions to the problems of Nigeria and make it a better society.”