By CLEMENT A. OLOYEDE

The National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to immediately put a stop to austerity measures and introduce stimulus expenditure.

Speaking at the 12th Colloquium to mark his 69th birthday, in Kano, on Monday, he said the country must fine-tune its economic programmes.

“This is the time to put stimulus expenditure in place, this is no more time for austerity. This is no more time to constrain the economy, it is time to create opportunities,” he said.

He cited example of the recent stimulus package by the US government while taking a dig at Nigeria’s increasing unemployment rate under the present administration.

“Your own employment rate is 33% and you ask us to keep on fasting. The one we are fasting spiritually is voluntary. We have been fasting for so many years. I hope the National Assembly, I hope the president himself will not pay attention to austerity. It is only the state that must constrain itself and balance budget.”

He added that sovereignty is that of Nigeria and it is only the federal government that has the sovereign power and must use it to improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

Tinubu also called on the government to employ more youths into the security sector.

“We are under policed and are competing with armed robbers and bandits to recruit from the youths who are unemployed.

“Don’t call them illiterates, anybody that can handle guns is capable of handling tractors in the farm. We can create the jobs.”

He also identified with the youths, saying: “Surprisingly, when you see the social media today, you see the minds of our youths. They are angry, but we appeal to them that we will listen to them.” (Daily Trust)

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