There is hardship in the land – CNPP tells Buhari

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday cried out that there is hunger in the land, just as it urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently reshuffle his cabinet and bring people with capacity to better the lives of the people.

Reacting to planned 100 percent increment in Value Added Tax (VAT), the inability of the government to meet its self-imposed April 7 deadline to end fuel queues and 45 percent electricity tariff increase, the CNPP noted with displeasure that “despite persistent public outcry, the government went ahead to implement the electricity tariff hike”.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, which was signed by CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, in which the conference also said some of the policies of the government is inflicting hardship on the people.

“Such policy decisions of the present government include its insistence to implement a 45% tariff increase at a time power generation has dropped to zero level.

“CNPP notes with displeasure that despite persistent public outcry, the government went ahead to implement the tariff hike. We cannot agree less with the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, who insisted that the 45% electricity tariff increase was illegal, unfair, unjustifiable and a further exploitation of the already exploited Nigerians.

“As if that was not enough, the government, through the Vice President, Prof YemiOsinbajo, has hinted on its plan to inflict more pain on Nigerians by increasing the Value Added Tax (VAT) by 100%.

“The Vice President who disclosed at the first national economic forum in Lagos that the federal government was planning to increase VAT from the current 5% to 10%, a hundred percent increment, only exposed the government’s insensitivity”, CNPP observed.

CNPP added that “it is painful that the government, which was unable to meet its self-imposed April 7, 2016 deadline to end fuel queues, has not added a megawatt of electricity since nearly a year in office but would opt for increment in electricity tariff, VAT, with the attendant economic hard that have resulted in more job loss instead of job creation.

“How much has the government done to alleviate the inexpressible suffering and inexcusable economic discomfort Nigerians are currently experiencing in the midst of abundant human and natural resources as a result the government’s inconsistent policy decisions?” the CNPP queried.

“In case the government is unaware, it is the integrity of Mr President that is still sustaining the regime, but how far such goodwill will take the administration is very uncertain, considering the present economic realities.

“Therefore, we advise that Mr President should urgently re-jig his cabinet by putting square pegs in square holes, with round pegs in round holes, rather than a situation where appointees were assigned critical and highly technical portfolios that have no relevance whatsoever to their academic qualification or professional expertise. This will save Nigeria further economic anguish”, the statement read.