A former Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Deacon Remi Ogunmefun, has expressed satisfaction with the economic blueprint of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Ogunmefun said the Buhari-led government had, more than any past administration, provided an enabling environment for the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises to thrive in the country.
The former MAN boss maintained that Buhari’s economic policies had been addressing the needs of Nigerians.
Ogunmefun spoke to our correspondent against the backdrop of the Microsoft Founder, Mr. Bill Gate’s comment on Buhari’s economic blueprint.
Gate had recently said President Buhari’s economic policies had failed to address the country’s needs.
But the former MAN DG maintained that the way the economic policies of the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress government had been structured was very supportive for the manufacturing industry.
He said, “I think Buhari’s economic policies have addressed the needs of Nigerians. The way the economic policies have been structured so far is very supportive for manufacturing. During recession, this administration supported manufacturing companies very well.
“The economic problem we had recently was not caused by this present government. We have had that problem long before they came. It’s been there for years, the problem of power has been there and other issues. To say the government has not been supportive, I do not share that view. For me, I think the government has been very supportive to the manufacturing sector and that has grown our economy.”
Also speaking, a former Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Human Capital Development in Ekiti State, Mr. Oluwole Ariyo, said the present administration had laid the foundation for rapid economic development.
Ariyo noted that the country’s economy was in a gestation period, adding that the government had been addressing the battered system.
Buhari’s economic policies have addressed the needs of Nigerians
He said more time should, therefore, be given to the government before proper assessment of Buhari’s policy could be done.
He said, “This is a gestation period that must be allowed before a correct assessment can be made about the approach of the Buhari administration towards addressing the already battered economy. It’s like Buhari is laying the foundation. As far as I am concerned, what Buhari is trying to do is to alleviate the sufferings of the people, which is in order, contrary to the views of Bill Gate and others.
“The Nigerian economic system has been battered and ruined by past governments for over 16 years and to bring things back to normal, it won’t be easy; it will require a systematic approach. You need to know how the problem was created; we must understand how we can deploy necessary resources, if they are there to solve the economic issues of the country.
“It is about addressing the problem fundamentally and in doing that, you don’t have to rush at it or else you will make greater mistakes. And don’t forget there are a lot of detractors around that are interested in the status quo ante, so that they can continue to take advantage of the bad state of the country.”
