President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is about to clock one year in office as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Since his assumption of office, every month has been very eventful with a lot of major policy decisions being churned out by the administration.
In this feature, Podium Reporters will take a look at the summary of the President’s scorecard in the month of April, 2024 as compiled by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre:
TAKE-OFF OF PHASE ONE OF CONSUMER CREDIT SCHEME
President Bola Tinubu in April approved the take off of the first phase of Consumer Credit scheme, which he promised Nigerians during his campaigns. President Tinubu on 20th December 2023, had established a Technical Working Group to develop the requisite framework for enhancing consumer credit in Nigeria with a five-month deadline.
LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW
In April, the President launched the National Single Window (NSW) Project aimed at streamlining all processes that facilitate trade (export and import) under one window. The NSW is an electronic portal linking all agencies and players in import and export processes to an integrated platform. It is domiciled at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
APPROVAL OF N25 BILLION FOR 8,800 PRIMARY HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
President Bola Tinubu in April also approved the disbursement of N25B through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to assist 8,800 primary healthcare centres across the country. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) were the gateways for the disbursement.
SECURED $250 MILLION GRANT FROM GAVI
President Bola Tinubu in April secured a $250 million grant from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance during a meeting with a GAVI delegation. The fund is to support is meant to support vaccine initiatives in the country. GAVI has already expended $2 million in Nigeria on vaccine production.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH FELLOWS PROGRAM
President Tinubu in April also approved the establishment of the National Health Fellows Programme where young Nigerians are to be engaged in all the 774 local government areas in the country. The well-trained fellows will serve as fiduciary agents to monitor and track Primary Healthcare Centre development and performance of Basic Health Care Provision Fund-supported health facilities across the nation.
SECURED $600 MILLION INVESTMENT COMMITMENT FROM MAERSK
The Tinubu administration also secured an investment commitment of $600 million from world-leading shipping containers and logistics company, Maersk. The company who are already major players in Nigeria’s shipping industry, seek to expand their operations and upgrade their facilities in some of Nigeria’s seaports.
APPROVAL TO DESIGN SOKOTO-BADAGRY COASTAL ROAD
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in April also approved the commencement of the design for the 1000-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway that will link the North West and North Central to the South West. The road is one of the spurs of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road already under construction.
INCREASE IN SALARIES OF FEDERAL CIVIL SERVANTS
President Tinubu’s administration also in April announced a salary increase of between 25% to 35% for federal civil servants captured under six consolidated salary structures. This salary increment is independent of the ongoing negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
INCLUSION OF NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY GRADUATES IN NYSC SCHEME
The Tinubu administration also in April announced that henceforth graduates of the National Open University (NOUN) are eligible to participate in the National Youth Service Corp, ending years of exclusion from the scheme.
LAUNCH OF FIRST BATCH OF CNG VEHICLES REVEALED
The Tinubu administration in April also announced the imminent launch of 2,700 CNG-powered buses and tricycles as part of President Tinubu’s CNG Initiative, which was established late last year. The Presidential CNG Initiative is targeting delivery of 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling sites spread across 18 states before the end of 2024.
APPROVAL OF DOTS POLICIES FOR OVERHAUL OF THE EDUCATION SECTOR
President Bola Tinubu in April approved system-wide policies aimed at carrying out a holistic overhaul of the education sector. The policies were codenamed DOTS, an acronym representing: Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training & Development, and Skill Development & Acquisition.
LAUNCH OF CITIZEN TRACKER APP
The Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in April also launched an upgraded Citizens’ Delivery Tracker App to help citizens monitor governance. The app gives Nigerians access to the deliverables of all Ministers, which allows them to monitor and evaluate the government’s performance. The app, which has gone live is expected to be on Google Play store and Apple store this month.