Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the present administration will not make excuses, but would rather would deliver on all its promises.
Mohammed said that in the next few days, the administration will start firing from all cylinders, starting with the unveiling of the 2016 budget.
The Minister made the comments at a meeting with representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Abuja on Tuesday.
”This Government will not give excuses. The painstaking and methodical approach by the Buhari Administration, its deep analysis and understanding of the challenges and the recent inauguration of the cabinet will herald a new dawn.”
”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.”
When queried on how the administration intends to make good on its promises, taking into cognizance that the country’s oil-dependent revenue is dwindling, Mohammed listed 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, whereas South Africa, with a population of 54 million and GDP of $366 billion, 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.”
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