The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, on Thursday hailed the removal of harmful fuel, foreign exchange, and electricity subsidies, saying that Nigeria is undergoing a fundamental and disruptive reset with their removal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Soludo, who spoke during Veritas University’s 13th Convocation Lecture in Abuja titled ‘Let Us Make a New Deal for Nigeria,’ explored ways to address the country’s challenges.
The Anambra State Governor, emphasized the need to transition from subsidies which he said largely benefitted the urban elite, to a productive social contract that creates opportunities for all.
Explaining that Nigeria needed to end the “harmful,” he said: “We have entered a ‘muddling-through’ phase that requires careful navigation.”
The former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stated that he benefited from free, quality education at the primary, secondary, and university levels with subsidised meals in public universities until government funding became unsustainable.
He acknowledged that, despite other issues, the military regimes invested in education during Nigeria’s early oil booms.
Soludo therefore urged Nigerians to craft a pragmatic new deal for the country, as well as an emergency national infrastructure plan similar to the U.S. Marshall Plan used to rebuild Europe after World War II.
He encouraged Nigerian leaders to draw inspiration from the Marshall Plan to implement public works projects, financial reforms, and regulatory changes that could transform the nation.
He also highlighted positive signs, such as the minimum wage legislation, the draft tax reform bill, and planned cash transfers.
He called for historic coordination between federal and state governments to ensure swift implementation of these reforms.
Soludo urged the graduating students to actively contribute to the country’s future, stating: “The future you seek is in your hands. Only those who plan can control the future, While Nigeria may not have given you much, you are expected to give more than you have received.”
He encouraged them to participate in shaping the nation’s destiny.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of Veritas University, Professor Hyacinth Ichoku, praised the Governor’s commitment to youth education.
He reaffirmed the university’s dedication to providing quality education and fostering strong moral values.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Dr Matthew Kukah, raised concerns about the rise of banditry and insecurity in Nigeria, attributed to uneducated individuals, restating the need to address this issue for the safety of future generations.