The All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians that it would
not renege on its campaign promise to pay N5,000 monthly to 25 million
most vulnerable Nigerians.
Leading opposition party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had on
Thursday objected to the move by the APC senators to oppose the
implementation of the N5,000 package for the unemployed and vulnerable
Nigerians, describing it as hypocritical and a clear confirmation that
the ruling party lied to Nigerians during the election to secure their
votes.
PDP statement read: "Indeed, the unanimity displayed by the APC
senators in rejecting the promised N5, 000 monthly welfare package,
especially coming after their party and the Presidency had made futile
efforts to distance themselves from it, further stresses the duplicitous
spirit of the APC and its reprehensible insensitivity to the feelings
and aspirations of Nigerians."
But the APC has urged the citizens to ignore the mischievous attempt by the PDP to confuse and mislead them on this issue.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said even though the PDP-led Federal
Government plundered the common wealth in its time, it (APC) had devised
creative means not only to pay the money but also to fulfill its other
campaign promises to Nigerians.
It said the non-implementation of the payment policy so far was due to
the fact that it was not included in the 2015 budget, which was prepared
by the PDP-led Jonathan Administration, and also because of the need to
first block all financial leakages.
''Now, the Buhari administration has been busy putting into place
measures that will make it possible to start the implementation of this
project. Such measures include the introduction of the Treasury Single
Account (TSA).
''We are happy to inform Nigerians that as at the end of September
2015, over N1.4 trillion which hitherto was lying unproductively in
various commercial banks - has been recovered and paid into the TSA,''
APC said.
The party said that in its usual jumpy and superficial approach to
issues, the irresponsible opposition has already rushed to judgement on
the issue without bothering to hear from the APC, which made the promise
in the first instance.
''Had the PDP not sacrificed the truth on the altar of political
expediency, it would have realised that the APC never at any time
indicated it has reneged on its promise to pay N5,000 monthly to 25
million most vulnerable Nigerians.
“In our press statement of Aug. 30th 2015, we still reiterated our plan
to redeem our campaign promises, including the social security payment
policy, despite the primitive looting of the treasury under the watch of
the PDP.
''It is therefore astonishing that the same PDP, which is becoming more
and more infamous for its penchant for peddling half-truths and
sensationalising every issue, will rush to the press to celebrate the
figment of its imagination that the APC will not fulfill its campaign
promise regarding the payment,'' it said.
The APC said the Buhari administration was also embarking on a massive
infrastructure renewal programme in the areas of roads, rail and power,
for which a $2.5 billion Infrastructure Fund is being put in place.
''Contrary to the disinformation being peddled by the PDP, the Buhari
administration is poised to lift millions of Nigerians out of extreme
poverty by providing social protection and safety nets with another N2.5
trillion Special Intervention Fund,'' the party said.
Source: THISDAYLIVE
No comments:
Post a Comment