How Endbadgovernance protests forced us to listen to Nigerians

Senator Abubakar Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, has acknowledged that the recent #EndBadGovernance protests compelled the federal government to pay closer attention to the concerns of Nigerians.

Addressing participants at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group’s National Economic Dialogue on Nigeria’s future, Bagudu reflected on the nation’s progress over the past 25 years of democracy.

He highlighted that despite the ongoing challenges, President Bola Tinubu has chosen not to dwell on the failures of previous administrations.

Instead, Tinubu’s administration is focused on addressing the current economic issues and improving the country’s prospects.

Bagudu pointed out that, while significant strides have been made, Nigeria’s income per capita remains below expectations, largely due to past underinvestment in critical sectors such as oil production.

Bagudu emphasized the importance of the constitution’s Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, which outline the nation’s political and economic goals.

He suggested that while the constitution offers a foundation for progress, it may need to be re-examined to better support the country’s aspirations, including achieving higher income levels by 2050 and securing substantial investments annually.

Reflecting on the challenges of the last quarter-century, Bagudu noted that effective governance requires cooperation among all tiers of government.

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He expressed optimism that, under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is ready to confront its challenges head-on, leveraging both public and private sector contributions to foster economic growth and employment.