We Will Start Firing From All Cylinders – Presidency Says No More Stories

 

 

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured Nigerians of better times ahead, saying the people will soon start getting the Change they voted for.

"This Government will not give excuses. The painstaking and methodical approach by Muhammadu Buhari Administration, its deep analysis and understanding of the challenges and the recent inauguration of the cabinet will herald a new dawn,” the Minister said at a meeting with representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said they "will start firing from all cylinders, starting with the unveiling of the 2016 budget."

"Nigerians will witness measurable and impactful progress in all spheres of governance. We shall not abandon our social intervention policies such as one meal a day for school children and the payment of 5,000 Naira each to vulnerable Nigerians. We are committed to lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty,” Alhaji Mohammed added.

On how the Administration will fund its programmes, in view of the drastic fall in the price of crude oil, the Minister said it would be through the diversification of the economy, plugging of leakages as well as exploiting and widening the country’s tax base without necessarily raising taxes.

”A comparative analysis between Nigeria and South Africa will drive the point home:

• In 2013, with a population of 160 million and GDP of $510 billion, Nigeria collected $30 billion in taxes, 
• In the same period, with a population of just 54 million and GDP of $366 billion, South Africa collected $74 billion in taxes.

"In 2014, Nigeria, with a population of 170 million and GDP of $535 billion, collected $26 billion, while South Africa, with a GDP of $350 billion and population of 54 million, raked in $70 billion. From the figures, it is obvious that if only we can widen our tax base, we do not need to raise taxes to increase our tax revenue,” he said

The Minister commended the Civil Society, saying "That is why we have started our engagement with you this early. Therefore, this will be the first in a series of engagements with the Civil Society. We see you as credible, and we see you as patriots, who are genuinely interested in the welfare of the people."

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