ANALYSIS OF PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU’S FIRST YEAR ADMINISTRATION

ANALYSIS OF PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU’S FIRST YEAR ADMINISTRATION

by | Nov 6, 2024 | Governance

BY SAMUEL AKENDE,

INTRODUCTION

The first year of an administration is usually seen as a very critical period for setting the tone and direction of governance. The current president of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office with a myriad of expectations from the Nigerian populace and the international community. 

The administration is centered on revitalizing the economy, enhancing security, and developing infrastructure in Nigeria.

This analysis delves into the first year of his administration to determine how his policies and interventions have influenced various sectors.

The research focuses on evaluating the administration performance across various critical sectors which include:

  • Education
  • International Relations
  • Social Welfare
  • Public Procurement
  • Health
  • Gender
  • Climate Change
  • Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The PUNCH reports that top on his priority list of action plans was national security, economy, agriculture, power, oil and gas, transportation and education.

In the manifesto exclusively obtained by The PUNCH on Friday 21st October 2022, Tinubu said his objective is to foster a new society based on shared prosperity, tolerance, compassion, and the unwavering commitment to treating each citizen with equal respect and due regard.

Brief on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth/contraction.

In President Tinubu’s first year in office, Nigeria experienced a moderate GDP growth amidst a complex economic landscape. The quarterly GDP growth rates showcased a positive trend, with Q1 at 1.5%, Q2 at 2.3%, Q3 at 2.1%, and Q4 at 1.8%. This represented an improvement over the previous year’s average growth rate of 1.0%. 

Key sectors contributing to this growth included agriculture, which expanded by 2.5% due to government incentives and favorable weather conditions, and the services sector, which grew by 3.0%, driven by advancements in telecommunications and financial services. However, the manufacturing sector faced a contraction of 1.2%, largely due to high production costs and supply chain disruptions.

President Tinubu’s administration has implemented several economic policies to foster growth, including increased government spending on infrastructure and tax incentives for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The Central Bank’s tight monetary policy aimed at controlling inflation also played a significant role, maintaining interest rates at relatively high levels. Despite these efforts, challenges such as inflation, which averaged 15% for the year, and a high unemployment rate, which saw a slight reduction from 33% to 30%, persisted. The administration’s focus on improving the business environment and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) yielded positive results, with a 10% increase in FDI, particularly in the tech and energy sectors. Overall, the first year of Tinubu’s administration set a foundation for future economic growth, though significant hurdles remain.

This report evaluates President Tinubu’s performance across various key sectors during his first year in office. Here’s a breakdown of the key findings and recommendations. However, by addressing the outlined challenges and implementing the recommendations, the administration can achieve more sustainable progress for Nigerians.

HEALTH

On May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu assumed office as the 16th president of Nigeria, succeeding former president Muhammadu Buhari. Tinubu, who contested under the All Progressive Party, pulled 8.79 million votes to defeat the other 17 candidates who contested for the seat on February 25, 2023.

This report is centred on the health sector under President Tinubu’s one year in office. President Tinubu’s performance in the health sector during his first year in office has shown a mix of progress and ongoing challenges.

In the 2022 budget, the allocation to the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) was reduced by almost N10 billion, from N54.05 billion to N44.56 billion. The essence of the BHCPF is to attain Universal Health Coverage by funding primary healthcare clinics nationwide to give Nigerians in rural areas access to health. Ordinarily, the allocation to these healthcare centres should not be less than one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Yet the figures were still tampered with, with the initial N54.05 billion that was grossly inadequate.

In the 2023 Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly, the executive provides the sum of N1.17 trillion for the health sector. Despite that this allocation is far below the 13 per cent recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the 2001 African Union (AU) 15 percent Abuja declaration, there is nothing to suggest that the lawmakers may not tamper with the allocation in a manner that makes nonsense of the plan for the critical sector. That has been the pattern every year. The consequence of this state of affairs in the health sector is that several Nigerians now habitually fly to India and other countries to obtain what they consider quality health services at a very huge cost to our economy.

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Increased Funding

Tinubu’s administration allocated substantial funds to the health sector in the 2024 budget, signaling a commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and expanding services. 

  • Policy Initiatives: 

The administration introduced the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. Additionally, there has been a focus on revitalizing primary healthcare centres (PHCs), which are critical for community-level health services.

  • Vaccination and Local Production

Tinubu emphasized increasing local vaccine production and engaging with international partners to ensure equitable vaccine access. This is a strategic move towards self-reliance in managing public health crises.

  • Technology Integration

The administration has advanced health technologies by integrating electronic medical records (EMR) and telehealth services, aiming to create a more data-driven and efficient health system.

CHALLENGES

  • Healthcare Infrastructure

Despite some improvements, many areas, particularly rural regions, still suffer from inadequate healthcare facilities and staffing. Overcrowding in hospitals and a shortage of medical professionals are significant issues.

  • Economic Strain 

The economic downturn, including the removal of fuel subsidies, has affected healthcare affordability and led to drug price inflation. This has exacerbated the challenges in accessing healthcare for many Nigerians.

  • Brain Drain

The emigration of healthcare professionals continues to pose a serious problem. Although there are efforts to encourage the return of diaspora professionals, the gap in the medical workforce remains a critical issue​

  • Healthcare Accessibility

Both years saw significant disparities in healthcare access, particularly between urban and rural areas. Overcrowding in hospitals and long waiting times were common issues reported by citizens.

  • Economic Factors

The removal of fuel subsidies and other economic challenges in 2023 led to increased drug prices, making healthcare less affordable for many Nigerians​. Another issue that concerns many stakeholders is the lip service being paid to maternal health, neonatal health, and birth control, in the face of an astronomical population growth. The lack of access to contraceptive commodities exposes women to unwanted pregnancies and other related health challenges. Government, at all levels, has failed to match finances with rhetoric about child spacing, by never making budgetary allocations for it, and refusing to release funds for the procurement of commodities when the line item features in their budgets. Many advocacy groups enlighten communities about the importance of child spacing to families’ health and wealth but lack the critical resources.

KEY HEALTH INDICATORS

Maternal Mortality Rate (Year 2022-Year 2023)

The maternal mortality rate stood at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, which was significantly higher than the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The rate remained alarmingly high, reflecting continued challenges in maternal health services, although specific updated figures are not readily available.

Under-five Mortality Rate(Year 2022 -Year 2023)

The under-five mortality rate was 102 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Similar issues persisted, with no major improvement in the figures, highlighting ongoing challenges in child health services.

Life Expectancy (Year 2022 -Year 2023)

Life expectancy was about 55.1 years for men and 57.2 years for women.

Life expectancy figures remained relatively unchanged, as broader systemic health issues were not fully addressed within the year.

Overall, while there are notable efforts and some progress in the health sector under Tinubu’s leadership, significant challenges remain that need to be addressed to achieve broader health coverage and improved outcomes.


CLIMATE CHANGE

Operations at the inception of Tinubu Administration

Nigeria and the majority of African nations have linked themselves with the Paris Agreement which calls for limiting global warming as reached at the COP21 in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The Tinubu administration stated its commitment to addressing climate issues by developing a policy framework and enacting legislation for climate change governance.


ACHIEVEMENTS

  • The existence of a formalised National Climate Change Policy and a climate change statute that serve as guidelines for attempts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. 
  • The extension of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that document Nigeria’s pledges to lower greenhouse gas emissions and include more renewable energy sources into the country’s energy mix.
  • The Nigeria Carbon Market and Electric Buses Rollout Programme was introduced. This ground-breaking project aims to install a fleet of 100 electric buses. To oversee the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Plan, an Inter-governmental Committee on Carbon Markets was established.
  • Created a strategy to move away from fossil fuels and towards greener energy sources, and worked with international partners to get climate money and technology.

CHALLENGES

  • There is no institutional agenda item for climate change education; there is little effort being made to increase the quantity and quality of data relevant to climate change.
  • Limited ability to implement climate change policies and create awareness to a large population. There is a dearth of curriculum on climate education in Nigerian schools, and there is a general lack of public awareness.
  •  Inadequate information and analysis on climate resilience, inadequate institutional capacity and coordination.
  • Fossil fuel reliance and low level of investment in renewable energy and limited private sector engagement.

GENDER AND INCLUSION

Operations at the inception Of Tinubu Administration

At his inaugural speech, President Tinubu promised that: “members of the Federal Executive Council are to reserve certain senior positions for women, while the private sector will be encouraged to do the same” (Renewed Hope 2023: Action Plan for a Better Nigeria). Working with the National Assembly, we will aim to pass legislation promoting female employment in all government offices, ministries, and agencies. The goal will be to increase women’s participation in government to at least 35 percent of all governmental positions (Tinubu, 2023)

ACHIEVEMENT 

  • The inclusion of women in important appointments in ministries, departments, and agencies that have historically been run by men, although only 19% of the 47 ministers appointed were women.
  • The introduction of a number of programmes for economic empowerment, including as the Owo oja and Iyaloja schemes, with the goal of empowering women and increasing funding for healthcare, education, and employment opportunities for women and girls in line with his larger vision for gender equality.
  • Offering special assistance to women with disabilities and incorporating them into the National Business Skills Development Initiative (NBSDI), which the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) has introduced. 
  • The creation of initiatives aimed at empowering women and girls, like the Women and Girls Educational and Skills Empowerment initiative, which aims to build relationships with the 36 state governors.
  • The launch of the Nigeria reproductive Health policy 2022 and initiatives to promote menstrual hygiene and health to improve women’s health outcomes.
  • The extension of the National health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to cover women’s health services.
  •  Increased access to mobile banking and financial services for women especially in the rural areas and the encouragement of women participation in the fintech industry.

CHALLENGES

  • Despite prior official guarantees that women would hold 35% of positions in the Nigerian government, including important appointments, just 19% of the 47 ministers appointed were women. More work has to be done to overcome Nigeria’s pervasive gender inequality

DIGITAL GOVERNANCE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

ACHIEVEMENT

  • There is significant progress in digital governance and AI, laying a strong foundation for future advancements.
  • Citizen Engagement and satisfaction with government services have increased due to the digitization of processes.
  • There is significant progress in the integration of NIN for various services, such as banking and SIM registration, and has progressed, aiming to improve security and service delivery.
  • A  comprehensive cyber security strategy which has been developed, focusing on protecting critical infrastructure and personal data,
  • Strategic framework to promote AI development, emphasizing innovation, research, and public-private partnerships.
  • AI technologies have been integrated into governance processes, improving decision-making and policy formulation through data analytics.
  • Emphasis on technology and the digital economy. The government has proposed new policies aimed at fostering innovation, particularly in fintech, which has a significant overlap with AI and digital governance.
  •  There has been a push to support tech-driven initiatives, with the government signalling its intention to create more opportunities for young innovators. This includes a focus on startups, which are often at the forefront of AI development.
  • Infrastructure Investment: Some steps have been taken to improve digital infrastructure, which is crucial for the effective deployment of AI and other digital technologies. This includes efforts to expand internet access and enhance data management systems.

CHALLENGES

  • While the policies are promising, there have been criticisms regarding the slow pace of implementation. Effective digital governance requires swift and decisive action, and some stakeholders feel that the government has not moved fast enough.
  • There is still a need for clearer regulations surrounding AI and digital governance. The current legal framework is seen as outdated by many in the tech industry, which could hinder the growth of AI-related sectors.
  • Digital governance also depends on public trust, which has been a challenge due to lingering concerns over data privacy and cyber security. The government has yet to fully address these concerns in a way that satisfies the public and industry experts.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

Public procurement entails ‘big budgets’ and ‘complex plans. In quantitative terms, one in every three dollars spent by the government is on a contract with a company, and public contracting is the world’s largest marketplace, covering $13 trillion of spending every year. Thus, public procurement avails the opportunities for corruption, and corruption can add as much as 50 percent to project costs, with serious implications for the quality of work or services, and sometimes costing lives. Based on the World Bank’s 2000 Nigeria Country Procurement Assessment Report, the federal government set up the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (that is the ‘Due Process’ Unit) in 2001, and the Public Procurement Act 2007 established the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) as the monitoring, oversight and regulatory authority of public procurement in Nigeria. Furthermore, the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) was set up in 2018. Despite these milestones, an estimated ₦2.9 trillion ($7.6 billion) was reportedly lost to contract and procurement fraud in three years (2018-2022) alone. This figure constitutes a staggering 10 percent of the total federal budget for the same period, and surpasses the cumulative foreign direct investment (i.e., $5.5 billion) for the same period. Arguably, persistent procurement fraud in the country is due to a weak BPP, and the absence of a National Procurement Council, as provided by the Public Procurement Act 2007.

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • In his inaugural speech of May 29, 2023, President Tinubu promised to ‘impartially’ govern “according to the constitution and the rule of law.” The president also promised to discourage corruption, as well as strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies. At the ministerial retreat for members of the Federal Executive Council, President Tinubu advised his cabinet members and special advisers to suspend their personal ambitions for national progress. More fundamentally, President Tinubu has approved the review of the Public Procurement Act 2007, to ensure realistic procurement outcomes in the face of current economic realities, and to enhance budget implementation and ease of doing business. The Public Procurement Act (Amendment) Bill 2023 is currently before the National Assembly.
  • President Tinubu also approved the emergency procurement of digital tracking tools to halt kidnappers in their tracks in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as the mandatory procurement of CNG-powered vehicles by all federal government agencies.
  • Additionally, the President Tinubu led administration is saving money from some contracts awarded by the immediate past administration, such as that of Abuja Metro Light Rail operation and personnel training awarded to the CCECC. over a procurement fraud. Report says the President Tinubu led administration awarded contracts worth 6.27 trillion NGN for construction and developing various infrastructure projects (including roads, bridges, train systems, and airport infrastructure) across the country in a period of eight months (October 16, 2023- May 14, 2024). 
  • The president also provided the leadership for capacity building of the National Social Safety Net Programme Scale-Up’s procurement team, through changes to contract management practices.

CHALLENGES

  • Nigeria’s federal contracting system still demonstrates some features of selective tendering, restriction and non-disclosure of contract details, non-compliance with bidding process, non-adherence to the relevant laws on environmental impact assessment as a vital component of the procurement process, and institutional weakness.
  • The partial implementation of the Public Procurement Act 2007 is evidenced by the absence of a National Council on Procurement, and this merging with the non-competitive or ‘back door’ selection of successive BPP directors-general to weaken the system.
  • The violation of the relevant laws on public procurement, transparency, and due process is also evidenced by project variations.
  • Another downside pertains to the issue of gender responsive procurement. Available evidence suggests that only Ekiti State has a legal and policy framework that prioritises women in procurement. Women constitute 50 percent of the population, but receive less than five percent of public contracts awarded.
  • The building of additional funds into annual budgets by the National Assembly also has serious implications for public procurement.

SOCIAL WELFARE

  • The Nigeria 1999 Constitution (as altered) guarantees the security and welfare of the people, the control of the national economy for maximum welfare, freedom and happiness, as well as the protection of children, young persons, and the aged against exploitation and neglect. This includes “public assistance in deserving cases or other conditions of need” (in subsection 3(g) of section 17). Since the return to civil rule in May 1999, the federal government introduced former President Olusegun Obasanjo’ National Poverty Eradication Programme, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, and former President Muhammadu Buhari’s National Social Investment Programme. Despite these interventions, social welfare burdens persisted before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inauguration (on May 29, 2023). In his first inaugural address, President Tinubu acknowledged the hardship endured by the citizens. The president is also not unmindful of the extra burdens posed by his economic policy reforms, but he is committed to improvements that would nurture humanity, encourage compassion toward one another, and duly reward the collective effort to resolve social ills. Further to his Third Guiding Principle, president Tinubu introduced a number

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • The interventions are briefly discussed under the banner of welfare retrenchment, social destitution, poverty and inequality, as well as weak social protection. The key measures for addressing welfare retrenchment by President Tinubu include the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative to deliver cheaper, safer, and more friendly energy, especially for mass transit; the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), to provide easy and equal access to higher education for indigent Nigerians; and the doubling of health care facilities in communities across the country, as well as the training of 120,000 frontline health workers over the next 16 months. 
  • On social destitution, the interventions include palliatives (5,000,000,000 NGN) and release of trucks of rice to the federating states, declaration of a state of emergency on food insecurity, support of fertiliser, seedlings and other inputs for farmers, as well as cooperation with the African Development Bank, and Brazilian Government. 
  • In addressing the ‘epidemic of homelessness’, President Tinubu launched the ‘Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Development Programme’ to enhance the quality of living for residents. 
  • The president also established the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), to ensure that economically active Nigerians who are earning a modest income are able to acquire necessities that can improve their lives.
  • Poverty and inequality are also considered. The National Social Safety Net Programme Scale-Up (NASSP-SU) seeks to provide a shock responsive safety net to Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable. As of May 2024, NASSP-SU had reportedly covered about 30 million beneficiaries with about three million poor and vulnerable households receiving shock-responsive cash transfers. President Tinubu also launched the conditional cash transfer (25,000 NGN) to 15 million households. The Student’s Loan Act, 2024 will also ensure unhindered access to education for all young Nigerians. Another measure is the 50,000 NGN non-repayable grant programme for one million Nigerians, particularly women and youth engaged in nano businesses and skilled trades.
  • In addressing the weak social protection, President Tinubu approved the suspension of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) for six weeks. The resumed conditional cash transfer programme will provide direct payment to 75 million Nigerians and 50 million households, especially the vulnerable. 
  • The administration has also launched the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (e-CRVS), the National Geospatial Data Repository, the National Coordination Committee on CRVS for the regulation of data for social protection Programmes.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

On May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu assumed office, declaring that his primary objective in foreign policy was to advance Nigeria’s interests and establish peace and stability in West Africa and the broader African continent.

Tinubu’s 4D doctrine focuses on democracy, development, demography, and diaspora. This doctrine aims to consolidate democratic progress, boost economic development, leverage the talents of Nigeria’s young population, and engage the Nigerian diaspora community for national growth.

The “Tinubu’s 4D doctrine” was highlighted at international forums like the G-20 meeting and the 78th UN General Assembly. 

The doctrine emphasizes:

  • Democracy: Promoting democracy within Africa and globally, responding proactively to unconstitutional government changes.
  • Development: Breaking the cycle of dependency by leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area for economic cooperation.
  • Demography: Utilizing Nigeria’s young population to drive human capital development.
  • Diaspora: Recognizing the Nigerian diaspora’s significant contributions through remittances and direct investments.

ACHIEVEMENT

Tinubu’s ECOWAS Chairmanship:

  • Tinubu aimed to solidify domestic support through his ECOWAS chairmanship.
  • The coup in Niger exposed ECOWAS’s limitations, leading to sanctions and the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
  • ECOWAS later revoked sanctions, emphasizing regional cooperation, but the future of democracy and ECOWAS’s influence remains uncertain.

African Union and Nigeria Interaction:

  • Tinubu hosted a counter-terrorism summit in Abuja, emphasizing African-led solutions and regional collaboration.
  • The summit highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to combat terrorism and the potential establishment of a regional standby military force.

Tinubu’s First Trip to Paris:

  • Attended the New Global Financing Pact Climate Change Summit, focusing on MDB reforms, debt crisis, innovative financing, international taxes, and SDRs.
  • Tinubu engaged with global leaders to attract investment in Nigeria’s green economy and secure support for economic stability.

The Delhi G-20 Summit:

  • Secured $14 billion in investment commitments from Indian corporations.
  • Advocated for global inclusiveness and fairness, emphasizing Nigeria’s role in promoting shared prosperity and security.
  • Engaged in bilateral and multilateral meetings to foster economic diplomacy and attract foreign investment.

Russia-Africa Summit:

  • Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s strategic reforms and economic diversification.
  • Commended for initiatives towards industrialization, including a $3 billion pledge to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mills.

BRICS Summit:

  • Emphasized Nigeria’s aspiration for inclusive economic growth and shared prosperity.

EDUCATION

ACHIEVEMENT

  • Broadening Access to Education: The Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act 2024, signed by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024 (Nigeria – The Statehouse, Abuja, (statehouse.gov.ng 2024), established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to qualified Nigerians for tuition, fees, and living expenses during their studies at approved tertiary institutions and vocational training programs  (PLAC, 2024).  The program targets to support 1.2 million students in its initial phase, offering a significant boost to educational accessibility.
  • Improved Student Accommodation: The government’s commitment to improving student living conditions is evident in the ongoing construction of student hostels. While specific details on the number of institutions haven’t been readily found online, the target of 1,600 beds across 24 tertiary institutions demonstrates a positive step towards addressing student accommodation needs.
  • Promoting Educational Research: The allocation of N5.1 billion to 185 research proposals under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) National Research Fund signifies a notable investment in fostering a research-oriented educational environment (TETFUND, 2024).

Budgetary Allocations

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO, 2023), the standard recommendation for education spending is at least 15% to 20% of the national budget. However, the Nigerian government has consistently fallen short of this benchmark (Premium Times Nigeria, 2024).

A review of the 2024 approved budget revealed that N1.59 trillion, or 5.5% of the N28.77 trillion, was allocated to education (Premium Times Nigeria, 2024). This allocation, despite President Tinubu’s campaign promises and post-election pronouncements to reform the education sector through increased funding, represents a significant shortfall compared to the UNESCO benchmark (Premium Times Nigeria, 2024).

Breaking down the allocation, N480 billion (N480,781,350,182) was budgeted for capital projects, constituting 30.3% of the education ministry’s allocation (Premium Times Nigeria, 2024). Overhead costs stand at 4.5%, totaling N72.1 billion (N72,124,230,514) (Premium Times Nigeria, 2024). The remaining 65.2% (N1,036,484,193,887) is allocated for personnel costs, highlighting that a significant portion of the budget goes towards salaries, leaving a smaller proportion for infrastructure development (Premium Times Nigeria, 2024).

CHALLENGES

According to the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) in in February 19th 2024 : “President Bola Tinubu in October 2023, waived the “No Work, No Pay Policy” of the Federal Government and approved the release of four of the eight months’ salaries of ASUU members withheld by the administration of the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government”.  But he never appointed the Governing Council to higher institutions in his one year in Office as President. 

Safe School and Insecurity

The Investigative Centre for Investigative Reporting documented numerous instances where over 200 students were abducted across the country, either on their way to school or from within school premises (Punch Nigeria, 2024).  These abductions not only disrupt the educational process but also inflict deep psychological trauma on students, families, and communities.

The Kuriga abduction on March 8th  2024 serves as a stark case study. Armed assailants stormed schools in Kuriga, Kaduna State, during morning assembly, brazenly abducting 137 students. Initially reported as 287 missing, the revised number exposed the initial confusion and fear surrounding the event (Punch Nigeria, 2024) The abduction sparked national outrage, highlighting the vulnerability of educational institutions, particularly in conflict zones.  After 16 agonizing days in captivity, the students were released, but the ordeal left an indelible mark on their lives. Some days later, another 15 students were kidnapped from a school in Gada, Sokoto.

Further findings from the ICIR in 2024 also showed that Kaduna state has experienced more school children abductions than any other affected state in Nigeria that made it to mainstream media. While some of the school children kidnapped have been rescued, either through the effort of security operatives or ransom paid by families, others are still held in captivity. The worsened school abduction is just one out of many insecurity crises that Nigeria have been challenged with over the years. 

Teachers Welfare

According to Jacinta (2024):

“Former President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2020 World Teachers Day had approved the extension of teachers’ retirement age from 60 years to 65 years and teaching service from 35 years to 40 years. He approved low-cost housing for teachers in rural areas, sponsorship to, at least, one refresher training per annum to benchmark best practices for improved teaching and learning. Buhari asked for a special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools, including provisions for rural posting allowance, science teachers allowance and peculiar allowance as well as a special pension scheme to enable the teaching profession to retain its experienced talents. But None of this has been implemented by the Tinubu Administration in its 1 year in Office, citing lack of funds to push Implementation”.

Many teachers have decried the poor implementation of all the promises made by President Buhari by President Tinubu. 

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has severally urged the Tinubu administration to prioritize education by providing more funding for teacher training and incentives, citing Ghana’s model of yearly developmental allowances for teachers during long vacations as an example (Adeyemo, 2023). The NUT Secretary General, Dr. Mike Ike-Ene, stressed the need for improved security in schools, which have become vulnerable to kidnappings (Ikeagwu, 2024). He emphasized the crucial role of education in national development and reminded the President of his own educational background, implying a debt to teachers (Okoli, 2023). The National President, Comrade Titus Amba, advocated for investment in equipping teachers with the necessary technological skills, highlighting the universality of a well-trained teacher (Nwagwu, 2024). Overall, the NUT conveyed the message that teacher development and motivation are essential for an effective education system.

Out of school Children

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his one year in office described the number of out-of-school children in the north as “unacceptable,” highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue (Premium Times Nigeria, 2023).  Statistics on out of school children in Nigeria  paint a grim picture, with UNESCO estimating that Nigeria has the second-highest number of out-of-school children globally, with roughly 20 million lacking access to education (Premium Times Nigeria, 2023). This staggering figure underscores the immense scale of the problem.

RECOMMENDATIONS

CLIMATE

  • Bolster vulnerable communities capacity to adapt to and survive the environment
  • Encourage the conservation of forests and sustainable land use 
  • Encourage the study and development of climate change.
  • Strengthen awareness and education on climate change through schools, university, social media, billboard, training across vocational centres.
  • Encourage projects addressing climate change for communities and vulnerable groups.
  • Encourage practices of sustainable production and consumption

In conclusion, for climate change initiatives to have any real impact, a more thorough and well-coordinated strategy is needed. For effective climate change governance, institutions must be strengthened, financing must be increased, and public awareness and education must be improved. Adaptation and resilience to climate change must be given top priority by the administration, especially for vulnerable populations. Coordination and execution of climate change initiatives would be improved by the establishment of a specialised ministry or agency.

GENDER AND INCLUSION

  • Affirmative action can help increase the representation of women in politics.
  • Budgetary funding for projects and programmes pertaining to gender is increased.
  • The creation of specialist courts and support services, to address gender-based violence.
  • Dispel preconceptions and advance constructive gender roles actions to combat damaging gender stereotypes and patriarchal traditions that support gender inequity.
  • Make reproductive health care more widely accessible.
  • Address gender disparities in digital literacy and use of financial services.
  • Gender-appropriate practices policy that addresses issues like pay disparities, gender-based violence, reproductive rights, and access to healthcare and education can be spearheaded by women in positions of power and influence.

DIGITAL GOVERNANCE

  • While positive steps are being taken, particularly in terms of policy direction and infrastructure investment, the effectiveness of Tinubu’s approach to digital governance and AI will ultimately depend on the speed and quality of implementation. The coming years will be critical in determining whether these initial efforts will lead to substantial progress.
  • To fully leverage the potential of these technologies, the administration must address the digital divide, improve data privacy and security measures, and ensure the inclusive implementation of policies across all regions and as an urgency take into consideration the need to include those in the rural areas in scheme of things as it pertains to digital governance and artificial intelligence.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

  • Efforts should be made by the government to scale down on a public contracting process, defined by selective tendering, restriction and non-disclosure of contract details, non-compliance with bidding process, non-adherence to the relevant laws on environmental impact assessment.
  • The administration should apply courage, once more, by inaugurating the National Council on Procurement, comprising people of unassailable character. Also, the president should approve the competitive selection of a substantive BPP  director-general as provided for in the law.
  • The Public Procurement Act (Amendment) Bill 2023 should be speedily considered to ensure that all the pitfalls are addressed. The amendments should also address non-inclusion of women and youths.
  • The federal government should work with the National Assembly to ensure that the issue of project variation is addressed in accordance with laid down public financial management principles.
  • The leadership of the National Assembly should work to deal with the public perception, regarding budget padding and constituency projects as they affect public procurement

SOCIAL WELFARE

  • Efforts should be made to put the CNG- powered vehicles (buses and tricycles) on roads without further delay. This will quicken the Presidential CNG Initiative’s direct impact on the citizens welfare, through savings on transportation, energy and food, as well as new jobs.
  • The student loan scheme (i.e., NELFUND) should be expanded to cover the students of state government funded tertiary institutions and privately owned tertiary institutions. This is because of the contributions by all population segments towards the tax net.
  • The federal government should reconsider its welfare retrenchment stance, regarding the provision of basic social services for the citizens. This will support ‘the reason for state’ as captured by the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy.
  • The federal government should build on its current interventions in the health sector by addressing the fundamental factors pushing the Nigerian health workers outside the shores of the country.
  • The federal government should take a second look at the removal of subsidy on PMS for possible reversal of some sort. This is because the subsidy is a mechanism for validating the citizens trust in government.
  • The federal government would need to do more in terms of addressing the herdsmen-farmers conflict, as well as the spate of kidnappings across the country. This will complement the huge investment already made by the government in the broad field of agriculture and food security.
  • The federal government should design policy measures that would ensure that the intended beneficiaries of the low-cost housing units are not taken out of the ownership process.
  • Credit facilities provided by the newly established CREDICORP should be redesigned to cover all population segments, using innovative means. This is because the exclusion of the inactive population is a serious consideration for social provisioning.
  • More policy intervention is needed to address the soaring poverty in the country, beyond the president’ expressed concerns, and approved withdrawal of taxes and levies on important items, such as cooking gas related equipment.
  • The results of the e-CRVS, the National Geospatial Data Repository, and the National Coordination Committee on CRVS should be cross-checked with the National Identity Management Commission’ data.
  • The report of the multi-ministerial panel on the review of social investment programmes should be presented to key stakeholders for validation. Also, its recommendations should be incorporated into the existing National Social Protection Policy. The final policy document should be subjected to statutory legislation by the National Assembly. This will be fundamental to addressing the weak social protection in Nigeria.