RODIYYAT SHITTU – Kaduna
Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the Federal Government should spend more in other to create more jobs for the youth across the country to reduce restiveness and criminality found among the group.
He also urged the Government to do away with irrelevant spending, instead be keen on things that would bring about growth for the country.
The former Governor of Lagos State, who spoke at the 11th Arewa house annual lecture while chairing the occasion titled “Reduction of the cost of Governance for Inclusive Growth and Youth Development in Northern in a post Covid- 19 era”, noted that the course of discussion would not have been better other than now that the Country is faced with various challenges ranging from insecurity, abject poverty among others
“This is more than timely, particularly given the serious security challenges that have become one of the primary causes of despair and frustration among all Nigerians, young and old alike. That frustration and despair are, in large part, caused by chronic poverty and breakdown in social institutions wrought by such longstanding suffering.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has been carefully steering the country through the pandemic such that the negative impact on us and the economy has not been harsh as it might have been. The economy’s relapse into recession has ended but we must admit that the economy remains weak with too much unemployment and resources left idle.” He said.
Arguing further, Tinubu said, the Government must be focused on its spending so that the development of the country could be achieved.
“The development of any populous nation has always been dependent on the ability of government to allocate sufficient funds to projects and programs that create and encourage enduring growth and employment.
“One must make the point about the urgency of the need to think outside of the box in finding solutions to the challenges posed by our unemployed youth.
“It was not said that thus government spending would erode jobs but that it would create them. Thus, we should not be so against government spending. If it is for the right purposes, it can do essential things that the private sector cannot. We should be against is wasteful Government. We are against waste Government.
“Building vital infrastructure such as irrigation and water catchment systems will help agriculture, arrest desertification, and provide jobs. Only government has the power and resources to call forth such a programme”, he explained.
Also, the guest speaker of the occasion, Governor of Plateau, who is also the Chairman of Northern Governor’s Forum mentioned that ICT in Governance, use of local content, sizeable civil service and political offices, transperancy and accountability among others are ways to curb high cost of Governance in the Country.
They have called on all to embrace the paradigm shift from the high cost of Governance, state security, and welfare investment approach.
