Nigeria’s economy in bad shape, lament APC governors

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have decried the state of the country’s economy as they advised the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari to set up a strong economic team that will upturn the economy for good.

Speaking after a closed door meeting with the president-elect, in Abuja, on Tuesday, the governors described as worrisome, the inability of most of the states to pay salaries of their staff.

Rochas Okorocha, Imo State governor, speaking for the APC governors, said the APC governors decided to visit Buhari to inform him of the challenges ahead of him and possible bailout options to address the dwindling economy of the country.

“We came here to pay a courtesy call on the president-elect, who will be sworn in on the 29th of this month as the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also to familiarise ourselves with both the new governors and the governors-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“One of the issues that is of concern to all of us is the state of the Nigerian economy which is really in bad shape. We have come to notify the incoming president of the challenges ahead of him. As it stands today, most states of the federation have not been able to pay salaries and even the Federal Government has not paid April salary and that is very worrisome, by May and June, that (salaries) will be in cumulative of three months. We wonder with the huge expectation from Nigerians and people who have voted us into power, we are hoping that the president-elect will do all that is humanly possible to bring about a bailout not only on the states, but the Federal Government at least for people to get their salaries and turn around the economy.

“We have seen the reason to work together and support Mr. President and we have also called on all our brothers in other political parties to come along with us to build the Nigeria of our dream. In a nutshell, we have come to congratulate Mr. President on a well deserved victory knowing that this victory, the change we’ve all been waiting for must only be dedicated to ordinary citizens of Nigeria who stood up and voted accordingly,” he said.

When asked whether the governors suggested to the president-elect measures he could adopt to turn around the country’s economy in the shortest possible time, Okorocha responded that the governors had so far informed the president-elect of the economic challenges and have offered useful suggestions.

“I think Mr. President (referring to Buhari) will come up with know how team that can arrest the ugly situation as promised,” Okorocha said.