Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has predicted a tough 2016 going by the crisis in the economy triggered by a sharp decline in the national revenue by more than 55%. He was however optimistic that his government will finish strong in spite of the economic indicators.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has also put Nigerians on notice that they must be ready to swallow bitter pills if the situation in the country is ever going to get better.
Speaking during a meeting with traditional rulers from Edo Central Senatorial district on Tuesday, Comrade Oshiomhole said “it is clear from all indicators that the coming year is likely to be very tough with the continued decline in revenue and rising expectation on the part of our people and with many state governments, local governments, and perhaps, even some federal agencies defaulting in the payment of salaries and allowances.
“The level of strike activities in the economy is going to be very high and of course, the level of unemployment is already unacceptably high and it could get even higher if we are not careful.
“So we have a lot of challenges ahead, but I am very confident that the President is determined and has the political will to do the needful and ensure the country remains stable and safe. The rest of us as state governments have responsibilities, working with the Local Governments and your good selves, the traditional rulers, to ensure that there is peace.
“In Edo State, we have done our best, even as things are, to ensure that we pay salaries as and when due. I believe our civil servants, teachers, everybody have been paid and have got their alerts so they would have something to celebrate their Christmas, but it not likely to be so in many other states, but we are the heartbeat of the nation. We must be positively different from the rest. So, we are trying to ensure that we sustain this tradition of meeting our wage obligation, because if we do not, I am clear that the consequences are huge. But thank God, the year is ending on a happy note as in Edo State, we have paid our salaries before the Christmas.”
Speaking during a recent interview with Radio Continental 102.3 FM, Mr Adesina said “I agree that 2015 has been a tough year, but then it’s like 2016 would still be tougher, at least in the early part of that year. We have been running a mono-product economy based on oil, and as long as oil prices remain down, things will be tough.”
The alternative, according to Adesina, would be agriculture and mining.
Nigerians should however not expect a quick fix, as he reminded them that agriculture has a gestation period.
“We may have to talk about two or three planting seasons before we begin to see changes, but mining can give us immediate succour and that is where we have Dr Kayode Fayemi as Minister.
“Mining can give us immediate succour because the products are there, the solid minerals are there, it’s just to process them and Nigeria can make good money from that area. But we must be ready to swallow some bitter pills before things get better.”
