President Muhammadu Buhari has cautioned leaders of the various
labour unions in the country to desist from distracting his
administration as he was committed to fixing infrastructure to make
the economy vibrant again.
He stated this on Thursday when he played host to the executive
committee members of the National Association of Nigerian Students
(NANS) at the State House, Abuja.
He also took a swipe at striking members of the Academic Staff
Union of Universities (ASUU), saying he would rather appeal to them
not to encroach on the right of students to quality education and
early graduation.
He said contrary to critics of his administration, there was no
part of the country lacking in infrastructural development brought
about by his government in the past three and half years.
He said, “In three and half years, we have improved tremendously
on what we met. We are trying to do infrastructure.
“No matter which part of the country you come from, you will see
the efforts we are making in terms of roads; we are trying to fix
rails, we are trying to do power, through the use of gas and
solar.
“If you note what we have done in these three and half years,
you will not regret voting this administration into power.”
President Buhari also stated that Nigeria was doing very well in
agriculture as the country was about to attain food sufficiency and
security.
On the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), I assure you
that I will speak with the lecturers’ body “so that they don’t
encroach on your efforts to qualify in time”.
President Buhari said he had explained in details while
presenting the 2019 budget estimates, the earnings and expenditure
and therefore expected the elite to understand the position of the
government on certain issues.
He added that it was the responsibility of the government to
look after the employed as well as the unemployed.
The president urged the youths to start preparing themselves to
lead the country.
“There is a tendency for you to think that you can do better
than anybody, but it is very good for you to know the facts that
leadership entails,” he admonished them.
He assured NANS leaders that having been in positions of
leadership at various stages in life, and with the experience, he
meant well for Nigerians and, indeed, workers and should be allowed
to fix infrastructure so that more Nigerians could be taken out of
the poverty cycle.
“I am totally loyal to this country. Whatever I do is in the
interest of the ordinary people, especially those who do not have
the benefit of being educated like you, and are just trusting
whoever is leading them,” he said.
President Buhari also expressed gratitude to the students for
appreciating some of the things his administration had been able to
put in place and called on them to mobilise support for government,
as it strove to make Nigeria a better place.
Earlier in their remarks, the students, led by the president,
Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan, expressed appreciation of the
efforts of the administration, especially in the transformation of
the transportation sector as well as the decimation of terrorists
in the North-East.
They, however, requested the government to intervene in the
incessant strikes in the education sector; involve more youths in
governance, and look into the plight of students in different
institutions who had been expelled for “political” reasons.
Also, while inaugurating the women and youth presidential
campaign team at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, on
Thursday, the president appealed to Nigerians to renew his mandate
for another four-year term to enable him consolidate on his modest
achievements.
According to the president, his re-election bid was premised on
the need to sustain ‘change’ so that all systemic distortions could
be corrected and Nigerians allowed to enjoy the fruits of being
citizens under the banner of freedom.
He said since women and youths constitute the highest
beneficiaries of the social welfare programmes under the current
administration, it behoves on them to offer the same support they
gave to the government in 2015.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome members of the newly
constituted Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team and all my
supporters to this inauguration.
“Today’s gathering has once again reminded me of our political
struggles over the years and the support I enjoyed from you all. My
association with you has been for very long and is characterised by
loyalty to the cause of change.
“I am happy to tell you that we have made numerous landmark
achievements and the change remains unshaken and continues until we
return Nigeria on track to assume its rightful place among the
comity of nations.
“The Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team being
inaugurated today was constituted to support the Presidential
Campaign Council which I chair.
“This shows the importance with which we view the role of women
and youths as the backbone of the Nigerian electorate. As such,
they should be the drivers of our campaign, more so, they are the
major direct and indirect beneficiaries of our social investment
programmes.
“In carrying out this assignment, I expect from members of this
team the same loyalty and support which you exhibited in 2015. Let
us remind Nigerians about our plans, our good work and
achievements: Tell the people why they should give us another four
years.
“Our dream is to sustain change so that all systemic distortions
can be corrected and we can enjoy the fruits of being Nigerians
under the banner of freedom. It is also our hope that our unborn
children will inherit a better nation”, he said.