Acclaimed Economic Reforms Don’t Reflect Nigerians’ Living Conditions — SDP

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has said the acclaimed economic reforms and recovery figures being celebrated by the Federal Government as Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary do not reflect the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.

In a statement issued on Thursday, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, said on the occasion of the 66th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, the SDP celebrates the journey of nationhood, but cautions that the celebrations bring to the fore the imperative of engendering sustainable development and human security in the true sense.

He noted that in spite of national contradictions, internal paradoxes, and undeniable successive leadership failures that the country has had to contend with, it is worth celebrating that the nation’s diverse peoples have remained bound by resilience, carrying on together with a shared capacity to hope.

He said Nigeria is humongously blessed with human resources of extraordinary brilliance and great potential to truly become the pride of the black race, but sadly, the country has underwhelmingly performed in unleashing its potential for true greatness.

According to him, beyond high-profile policy announcements and mandate preservation sloganeering, there is need for a paradigm shift in governance systems.

“Our governance focus, as a matter of necessity, must be on revamping our economy and expanding opportunities for all citizens; responsible and fair resource distribution; enhanced food security, and local livelihood revitalization across the country,” he said.

He further said that the reforms and the economic recovery figures being applauded leave a yawning gap between democratic dividends and socio-economic realities.

“For us to achieve growth and sustainable development, there is a need for us to structurally tackle endemic poverty in practical terms; have more judicial reforms that guarantee law enforcement without hindrance and restore the trust of the public in the rule of law; institutionalize fiscal transparency; close infrastructure deficits, and intentionally transition from a palliative economy that runs on dependency and short-term consumption, to a production-driven economy.

“We cannot continue this unsustainable regime of subsidising corruption using borrowed funds, unmitigated corruption, unhealthy culture of rent-seeking and over-reliance on foreign institutions, and short-term emergency reliefs of distribution of grains, palliatives and cash-transfers,” the party warned.

Aiyenigba stressed that the challenges of the times demand serious and determined re-investment in productive sectors and expansion of local manufacturing capability, targeting the growth of small and medium enterprises, agriculture value-chain, energy, transport, and other critical sectors of the national economy.

The SDP offers a true hope that will restore the dignity of Nigerians and the honour of the country amongst the comity of nations.

Aiyenigba assured Nigerians that 2027 is another opportunity to open a new chapter of true national transformation, with the Prince Adewole Adebayo and Dr. Usman Bugaje SDP presidential ticket bearing the true hope for fixing Nigeria and guaranteeing national transformation.