Stakeholders Caution Buhari Against Last-minute Policies, Appointments

Critical stakeholders, yesterday, urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to stop last-minute projects and policies that may have effects on the incoming administration.

The stakeholders include Dr. Stephen Lafenwa of the Political Science Department of the University of Ibadan (UI), Yoruba Youth Socio-Cultural Association (YYSA), Yoruba self-determination groups and others.

They made the call while speaking with The Guardian in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Lafenwa said: ‘’I am not absolutely in support of last-minute policies from government that is ending its second term in less that two months.

“Critical projects and policies that would affect all and sundry should be left for the incoming administration. This is why Buhari’s government refused to implement the recommendations of the 2014 national conference up till today.

“Some of the implications of these “hurry- hurry” policies and projects include policy somersault or reversal, abandoned projects, humongous debts for the incoming administration, frosty relationship between the new administration and the victims of reversed policy.”

Also, the YYSA, through its National President, Habib Olalekan Hammed, said all the last-minute policies and programmes by the Buhari-led administration ought to have been done before election.

He said the issue of subsidy removal had been long overdue and it would be better if the outgoing government could embark on the process before handing over to the incoming government.

“Moreover, the $800 million palliative that is meant to mitigate the suffering that may emanate from subsidy removal is a good one, I think the government should put in place something bigger, and people working under state control should be taken care of as well by the state governors.

The Yoruba self-determination groups’ Secretary-General, Dr. Steve Abioye, said: “Election has been held and winner has emerged. Therefore, there is no justification for the outgoing administration initiating any new project.

“For those who say there should be law barring outgoing regimes from taking critical decisions, it could be done, provided such law will be strictly adhered to.”

(Guardian)