2023: Northerners Embrace Restructuring — Atiku
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People's Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has said that the governors of the North and the North in general have embraced his idea of restructuring unlike in the past when they opposed it.
Atiku said restructuring simply meant giving states more power and responsibility while running individual programs in their respective states.
The presidential candidate made the remarks when he participated as a guest in the interactive sessions of the Arewa Joint Committee alongside other presidential candidates on Saturday, in Kaduna.
The former vice president says part of his government's agenda is to boost revenue and taxation, moving away from an oil-based economy by making agriculture a top priority by granting the North the desired support.
He said: "In 2004, when I started advocating restructuring, I had very strong opposition from the North; today, the Governors of the North themselves and the people of the North have bought into restructuring.
"It means giving states more power and responsibility to appropriate their funding to run their own individual programs in their respective states. It doesn't mean you're going to get less of what you're going to get. But that just means more governance responsibilities.
"So what can we do to ensure that we wean ourselves off oil dependence? Agriculture is a top priority. I intend to ensure that the North receives the greatest support so that we can reinvent our agriculture."
Regarding small and medium-sized enterprises, Atiku further stated that "they are what provide prosperity and employment to low-income people in the country.
"I can give you an example that I have always given. I have a micro-finance bank which is now one of the best in the country and which practically only empowers women. Thanks to That, we lifted 45,000 families out of poverty in my state into a state of prosperity. They are all women.
“I proposed that we set aside $10 billion to promote our young entrepreneurs who leave school before they can start their own business. ensure that entrepreneurship is part of our curriculum,” he added.
As for education, he pointed out that his educational institution in Yola provides the necessary entrepreneurial skills for every student, regardless of the course of study.
“If you attended my university in Yola, whether you study law, engineering or science, you must study entrepreneurship. It is a compulsory subject. don't need to look for a job, instead we want you to create jobs for yourself and others.
“And then, of course, by repositioning our education system throughout northern Nigeria, there has been no dropout. Those of you who are as old as me or older than me can testify."
He spoke to the gathering about his passion for education, his optimism for unity, peace and security.
"I am passionate about education, which is why I have a pedagogical device, what I call from the cradle to the grave. I have a nursery school, a crèche, a primary school, a secondary school and a university located in the same place.
“So for me, education is fundamental. It is non-negotiable. superior of prosperity, peace, security and unity."
Please share this story:
Please share this story:
People's Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has said that the governors of the North and the North in general have embraced his idea of restructuring unlike in the past when they opposed it.
Atiku said restructuring simply meant giving states more power and responsibility while running individual programs in their respective states.
The presidential candidate made the remarks when he participated as a guest in the interactive sessions of the Arewa Joint Committee alongside other presidential candidates on Saturday, in Kaduna.
The former vice president says part of his government's agenda is to boost revenue and taxation, moving away from an oil-based economy by making agriculture a top priority by granting the North the desired support.
He said: "In 2004, when I started advocating restructuring, I had very strong opposition from the North; today, the Governors of the North themselves and the people of the North have bought into restructuring.
"It means giving states more power and responsibility to appropriate their funding to run their own individual programs in their respective states. It doesn't mean you're going to get less of what you're going to get. But that just means more governance responsibilities.
"So what can we do to ensure that we wean ourselves off oil dependence? Agriculture is a top priority. I intend to ensure that the North receives the greatest support so that we can reinvent our agriculture."
Regarding small and medium-sized enterprises, Atiku further stated that "they are what provide prosperity and employment to low-income people in the country.
"I can give you an example that I have always given. I have a micro-finance bank which is now one of the best in the country and which practically only empowers women. Thanks to That, we lifted 45,000 families out of poverty in my state into a state of prosperity. They are all women.
“I proposed that we set aside $10 billion to promote our young entrepreneurs who leave school before they can start their own business. ensure that entrepreneurship is part of our curriculum,” he added.
As for education, he pointed out that his educational institution in Yola provides the necessary entrepreneurial skills for every student, regardless of the course of study.
“If you attended my university in Yola, whether you study law, engineering or science, you must study entrepreneurship. It is a compulsory subject. don't need to look for a job, instead we want you to create jobs for yourself and others.
“And then, of course, by repositioning our education system throughout northern Nigeria, there has been no dropout. Those of you who are as old as me or older than me can testify."
He spoke to the gathering about his passion for education, his optimism for unity, peace and security.
"I am passionate about education, which is why I have a pedagogical device, what I call from the cradle to the grave. I have a nursery school, a crèche, a primary school, a secondary school and a university located in the same place.
“So for me, education is fundamental. It is non-negotiable. superior of prosperity, peace, security and unity."
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