CAPPA boss, Akinbode Oluwafemi
‘CAPPA said that it would hold Tinubu to his manifesto to implement an effective pro-health consumption tax that would be dedicated to funding public health and reducing consumption of products like sugar, alcohol and tobacco which are linked to rising cases of Non-Communicable Diseases’
Lagos-based Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to set Nigeria on the path of peace and sustainable growth by adopting an economic framework that will wean the country off its over-reliance on fossil fuel, promote sustainable energy sources, and safeguard human rights.
It also advised the president to improve public services, along with a total overhaul of the nation’s security architecture.
In a statement issued by Akinbode Oluwafemi, the executive director, in Lagos Thursday, CAPPA described the transition of power on May 29 as not merely the advent of a new administration, but a defining moment in Nigeria’s battered history.
CAPPA explained: “It is a call to action for the Tinubu administration to not only strive to rebuild the crumbling walls of national unity but also commit to tackling and prioritizing urgent national issues such as security, education, and public health, among other key interests.
‘‘Our country’s economy grapples with formidable challenges as we stand at critical crossroads. It’s a moment that demands bold and visionary leadership to inject new vitality into our economy and nationhood.’’
Also read: Tobacco farming is worsening Nigeria’s food crisis – CAPPA
Besides, it reminded Tinubu of his campaign manifesto, which promised to work to revive the country’s ailing economy through job creation, initiatives promoting food security, and a holistic sector rejuvenation.
It also noted that the president pledged to work in concert with global green energy trends and promote environmental justice by diversifying Nigeria beyond oil and moving the country out of the uninspiring ranking among the world’s top 10 flaring nations.
“Indeed, we agree with this vision and believe that our natural resource wealth, and strategic position on the global stage grants us ample leverage to spearhead global discourse on green energy, climate change and environmental sustainability.
“We thus urge President Tinubu to prioritize green energy policies that will decentralize Nigeria’s reliance on fossil fuels and demonstrate to the world at large that economic prosperity and environmental stewardship can coexist”.
The group pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic poignantly underscored the critical importance of robust and accessible public health services, even as it urged the new administration to give public health the attention it deserves, with special emphasis on access to clean water for the millions of Nigerians currently without it – an essential commodity and fundamental human right that is indispensable for preserving public health. Given President Tinubu’s campaign promise to establish a national potable water campaign that aligns with this need, the group called for the redemption of the pledge.
CAPPA said that it would hold Tinubu to his manifesto to implement an effective pro-health consumption tax that would be dedicated to funding public health and reducing consumption of products like sugar, alcohol and tobacco which are linked to rising cases of Non-Communicable Diseases.
On education, CAPPA said that it needed immediate attention.
“A country is only as good as the quality of education bequeathed to its citizens. Yet, Nigeria has consistently struggled to prioritize education in its budgetary allocation, falling short of the recommended global benchmark of a 15-20% allocation of national budgets to education.
“We therefore call on the Tinubu administration to step up to upgrading national education quality and standards by allocating more funds to education and implementing across all levels of the system, advanced pedagogical infrastructures that foster critical thinking, creativity, digital literacy and the acquisition of practical skills vital to improving national development and securing our spot in the global economy.”
The group appealed to the president to fortify Nigeria’s democracy by safeguarding human rights, upholding the rule of law as promised during his campaign, and nurturing a government that is transparent, accountable, and immune to corruption and nepotism which have become the bane of the national progress.
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