The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday said he would take practical steps to
reposition the economy if elected.
Delivering the 2019 Quarterly Island Club Business Lecture
in Lagos, the PDP flag bearer promised to restore investor confidence in the
economy.
In the lecture titled, “My Vision to get Nigeria Working
Again,” Atiku said he would support the private sector by undertaking reforms
that would unleash growth in the economy.
“We will restore confidence in the Nigerian economy. We will
implement policies to drive growth.
“Today, Ghana – a country with just 14 per cent of our
population – attracts more Foreign Direct Investment than Nigeria.
“In order to reverse the trend, our economic policies would
be more coherent, consistent and therefore more predictable by the business
community.
“Nothing could be more threatening to investment flows than
an environment that is full of policy flip-flops,“ he said.
Reeling out the components in his #The Atiku Plan for the
economy, the PDP candidate said he would create the environment for a strong,
productive, pro-growth private sector to create opportunities, jobs and fight
poverty.
He said his government would be constantly engaging the
private sector in policy design and implementation.
The PDP candidate said he would liberalise the economic
space and privatise all the ailing public enterprises, including the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation.
“The #AtikuPlan will undertake a de-regulation of the downstream
sector of the economy, review the PIB and privatise all four state refineries
that operate at less than 10 per cent of their installed capacities.
“We shall channel the proceeds from the privatisation into a
special fund for the development of education and health,” he said.
He added that he would assist Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises to grow and play their expected roles in the economy through the
right policies and programmes.
The PDP candidate said he would increase investments in
human capital, especially in health and education, as the people were the
fundamental reason for economic growth.
“We will create jobs by growing the economy and promoting
innovative flagship, job creation programmes such as the National Open
Apprenticeship Programme, through which we shall enhance the capacity of master
craftsmen and women by training one million apprentices every year.
“Our National Innovation Fund and SME Venture initiatives
will provide stable and sustainable long-term support to aspiring entrepreneurs.
“We will create an Economic Stimulus Fund with an initial
investment capacity of approximately 25 billion dollars to support private
sector investment in infrastructure,“ he said.
The PDP candidate promised to embark on workable power
reform to improve power supply.
He also promised to improve liquidity by undertaking fiscal
restructuring if elected.
Abubakar said repositioning the economy required a
government that had the right focus, adding the PDP would meet the economic
goals of Nigerians if elected.
Speaking on the recent suspension of the former Chief
Justice of the Federation, Walter Onnoghen, Abubakar described the Federal
Government‘s action as wrong.
Abubakar said the constitution already spelt out the rules
for the suspension and removal of the CJN, pointing out that due process was
not followed in Onnoghen’s suspension.
He urged all Nigerians to use the opportunity of the
February 16 election to vote the candidate with the right competence to govern
the country.
The PDP thanked the Island Club, a foremost social club in
Lagos, for the platform to speak and articulate his economic vision for
Nigeria.
The prominent Nigerians at the lecture were former President
Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, PDP National Chairman,
Prince Uche Secondus and Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce.
Others at the lecture included a PDP chieftain, Chief Bode
George, PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr Jimi Agbaje and former governor
of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel.
(NAN)
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