The mid-term report by President Goodluck Jonathan of his administration’s performance has been attracting so much reaction from various sections of the economy especially from the opposition camp and Civil Society Groups.
I am inclined to think that if the President had envisaged that he would get so much negative press, he would have contemplated shelving the event which was carried live on national television.
The mid-term report of Mr. Jonathan's 'Transformation Agenda’ administration was part of celebrations to mark 14 years of uninterrupted democratic rule.
The event was not without its little controversy as notable Nigerian figures stayed away from it including former rulers, Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Ernest Shonekan, Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and understandably Mohammadu Buhari.
Also absent from the occasion were Atiku Abubakar, CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal.
With the exception of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, all the others preferred to be in Dutse at the Economic summit organised by Jigawa State Governor, Mr. Sule Lamido.
President Jonathan during the presentation of the report had described media assessment of his two year rule as half baked saying they failed to state the criteria used in assessing his administration’s performance.
"Only on Monday, one of the dailies did an assessment of the ministries and performance of ministers, the first thing I looked for but didn't see is the criteria that were used to assess the performance of the ministers. As a teacher, I know you must have marking scheme when marking people. A number of comments about the performance of this administration are based on the heartbeat of people.
"Sometimes people assess governments based on their heart beats, two ministries - National Planning and Trade and Investment were given average in that publication, these two ministers’ performances in the last two years have been unprecedented. In terms of the number of businesses he (Aganga) has attracted to the country, in spite of our security challenges, so many businesses want to come to Nigeria. Before now trade and investment ministry was like dead end, but that has changed. Until Shamsudeen came on board before 2011, we never even knew we had a planning ministry that is why I asked what were the criteria used to assess the performance?
"I plead with those who want to write and assess to prepare marking scheme compare with previous governments and so on and so forth. Develop your marking scheme and mark us".
But the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lashed out at Mr. Jonathan insisting that Nigerians do not need a marking scheme to assess the President because he has not performed.
ACN wondered why the President had suddenly developed a thick skin for criticism as Nigerians have failed to give his PDP led administration a pass mark.
Not to be left out, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) said, “Performance is like a pregnancy that cannot be hidden. Where did he perform? Is it power, security, job creation, corruption or other infrastructural developments?
“The President knows he has failed Nigerians. Note that it is non- performance of the President that pushed him to aggression and fighting imaginary enemies. A performing President moves with air of confidence knowing that the people are on his side.”
But the Presidency has since described the opposition’s stance as reckless and irresponsible.
However, Right Activist, Mr. Jaye Gaskia in taking a hard look at 14 years of Democracy in Nigeria was very critical of the ruling party saying that they have disappointed Nigerians after 14 years of being saddled with leadership.
According to Mr. Gaskia, in the over fourteen years of democratic governance the populace has been worse off while the elites continue to plunder the country's resources.
"In 14 years we have the unenviable record of being about the only country in the world that has grown poverty by a factor of 50% [from 54% in 2000 to 69%-that is 112million people living in poverty-in 2012], contrary to the MDG goal of halving poverty!?
NLC President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar in a chat with BenjaminUmutemeReports while admitting that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has consistently grown, was quick to point out that it has not translated in the lives of Nigerians.
He noted that there is a disconnect between economic realities and what is been said by the government.
"If government is saying we are delivering on the dividends of democracy and the people are saying we are not seeing it then somebody must be telling lies?"
He noted that things can improve if government concentrates its energies on reviving the real sector of the economy.
It has not been all hard knocks for the Jonathan administration as he has continued to receive praise from industrialist and financial experts over his handling of the economy.
According to Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yussuf, "Economic growth trend measured by the performance of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), has been generally positive over the last two years, averaging about 6.5 percent. This is good compared to growth conditions in most economies around the world.
"Sectors that posted good growth performances as at December 2012 were Telecomms, 31.8 percent; Hotel and Restuarants, 12.2 percent; Solid Minerals, 12.5 percent; Building and Construction, 12.6 percent; Real Estate 12.4 percent and Wholesale and Retail Trade, 9.6 percent," he said.
While faulting their contribution to the economy, Mr. Yussuf agreed that Nigeria had become a major portfolio investment destination in Africa because investors are more comfortable in a democratic environment.
Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Madubuike opined that the stability of the economy showed President Jonathan is working.
"Looking at the numbers coming out of the financial system, one cannot but say that the Jonathan administration has done quite a lot in stabilising the system....You can only attribute this to the fact that some people are doing well. There must have been some policies put in place by this government to warrant the kind of stability we are witnessing in the financial circle. We cannot run away from that."
In the same vein, Mr. Rasheed Yussuff, pointed out that the banking reforms and the resolution of margin loan facilities have to an extent stabilised the entire financial sector.
"Talking about the macro-economic environment, some Ministers appointed by Jonathan are really doing well. Talk of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, and the Central Bank Governor. These four people are managing the macro-economy well. Kudos should be given to them," he added.
In spite of these achievements in the financial sector, experts are of the opinion that the President should do more to translate the realities of economic growth to the lives of Nigerians.
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