Over a month after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted the ban on campaigns for next year’s general election, only candidates representing four political parties have dominated the scene. They are Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP). In this piece culled from The Nation (excluding headline), that paper's Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU and Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI examine the highlights of the manifestoes of the big four.

The manifestoes of the four presidential candidates underscore their contrasting levels of knowledge, preparedness and appreciation of the enormity of challenges awaiting the next president in the post-Buhari era. The manifestos reflect their level of depth, their experience and exposure and totality of what they represent; their previous contributions as governors and vice president and their vision for a greater tomorrow.

TINUBU:

The manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is titled ‘Renewed Hope 2023: Action Plan For A Better Nigeria’. The 80-page programme of Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, encompasses logical and convincing solutions to complaints in critical sectors.

As he did in Lagos, talent will be harvested by Tinubu to fuel the fire of development and discipline will be enforced. Debates will be promoted and the superior argument will always be upheld.

Tinubu is not out to castigate the Buhari administration, which he and other compatriots midwifed. But, building on the administration’s accomplishment, his new agenda seeks to achieve 10 objectives. These are job creation and decent wages for youths as a baseline for creating a better life, manufacturing and invention of goods and services, thereby transforming Nigeria from a country of mere consumers to creators, less importation and more exportation to strengthen the naira, an agricultural policy that promotes productivity and guarantees a decent income for farmers, modernisation and expansion of public infrastructure, harnessing the energy of youths in the digital economy, entertainment, culture and tourism, and the abolition of poverty.

Others include the generation, transmission and distribution of sufficient, affordable electricity, accessible and affordable healthcare, education and housing; and “an adaptive national security architecture and action to obliterate terror, kidnapping, banditry and other forms of violent extremism.”

Power:

Tinubu accords power much priority in the manifesto. He recognises that the problem of unemployment, under-unemployment and moribund industries are a reflection of the state of the country’s power sector.

Tinubu has acknowledged that electricity is key to industrialisation, particularly the revival of the manufacturing sector. More employment opportunities will be generated if industries that have closed due to the unconducive atmosphere are revived.

Power has been a problematic sector for over three decades. As governor of Lagos, Tinubu came up with the Eron Project, which was frustrated by the Federal Government. Currently, the nation has approximately 12,000MW of installed capacity, generates only 8.000MW and is only able to distribute a maximum of 4,500MW to consumers. Tinubu lamented that the economy is, accordingly, constrained by our inability to generate, transmit, and distribute power efficiently.

The nation’s power problems, Tinubu admitted, cannot be solved overnight. What can be done, and what he has promised to do is to build on the foundation laid by President Buhari’s Presidential Power Initiative. Increased generation, transmission and distribution is Tinubu’s cardinal goal. Apart from encouraging off-grid and renewable power generation options and solutions undertaken by willing private sector participants, he also promised to work with the private sector and interested state governments to provide access to low-cost finance for power projects.

He also promised to eliminate estimated billing, an unpopular and harmful practice that has upset consumers and ensure that all electricity bills are meter-based.

Of importance is the plan to boost the domestic manufacturing of electricity meters, the Renewable Energy Plan, based on Nigeria’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2060, and the push for rural development.

Security:

The greatest challenge facing the country is security. The Buhari administration has not been sleeping on guard. But, terror, banditry, kidnapping and violent agitations are overwhelming. It is not due to a lack of effort. Criminal elements hoisting strange flags and undermining sovereignty have been curtailed. Seized territories have been recovered and internally displaced people have returned home. In the last two months, the Federal Government has reinvigorated the anti-terror war. However, more still needs to be accomplished.

The Tinubu/Shettima ticket believes that the fundamental responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens.

Thus, it has promised to mobilise the totality of national security, military and law enforcement assets to protect all Nigerians from danger and the fear of danger.

Reality has dawned on Nigeria that there must be a change of tactics. The watchword, according to Tinubu, is technology. It should be backed by the enhanced recruitment of personnel.

What is happening now is reminiscent of the grave security situation in Lagos when Tinubu assumed the reins as governor. The wisdom that permitted him to resolve the crisis has not deserted the genius.

The presidential candidate is now promising to bring the same determined, problem-solving spirit to solving insecurity at the national level. This, he said, will be done through a proactive and intelligence-driven security approach.

The first step is to bolster the security forces through recruitment, training and procurement of equipment.

The second is the redefinition of military doctrine and practice. Tinubu is proposing “Anti-Terrorist Battalions,” highly trained and disciplined with special forces units. Their objective, Tinubu said, is to seize the strategic and tactical initiative, giving terrorists, kidnappers and bandits no respite

Also, there is the need to upgrade tactical communications and transportation: Military units will be better equipped with tactical communications to give the military greater communications and mobility advantage over criminals, bandits and terrorists.

If the weapons systems are to be upgraded, the recruitment of people who possess the technical skills required for today’s military is also essential. But, it is also important that Nigeria, in Tinubu’s view, should reduce its dependence on imported foreign military equipment. The way to go is ramping up domestic production of basic and essential military hardware and equipment, including small arms and ammunition. The result is gradual military self-sufficiency.

Those defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria deserve improved salaries and welfare packages. Tinubu emphasised that since these soldiers are always absent from home, their families also deserve family allowances.

How can youths be discouraged from enlisting in terror groups? Tinubu thinks that disaffected youths should be assisted to overcome despair and alienation, which poverty can bring. This is the economic dimension of the anti-terror war. To stem attacks on critical national infrastructure, a Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Plan has been proposed.

Integral to this effort, Tinubu said, is the deployment of modern technologies, tools and equipment to end crude oil theft, prevent vandalization of national assets, and reduce, to the barest minimum, environmental pollution of the Niger Delta. He said: “We shall combine increased aerial surveillance over land and sea with other cutting-edge technology that will provide instant notification of intrusions or disruptions of all pipelines and related installations. Such technology will also be deployed to monitor power stations, transmission and distribution networks sea and airports, rail transportation, telecommunications and other vital infrastructure.”

Nigerian borders are porous. Many foreigners enter and leave without let or hindrance. The solution is to strengthen the ability of Customs and Immigration Services to patrol and monitor the borders. Tinubu believes that the use of aerial and ground-based technology mechanisms and more mobile patrol units will checkmate the menace of illegal immigrants.

Besides, to prevent violent groups from using the forests and other public lands as hideouts, Ranger or Forest Guard force will be revitalised, giving it the core mandate to monitor, identify, and track the use of forests by any violent or criminal groups. International collaboration needs to be sustained in the course of fighting terror. Tinubu assured that the Multinational Joint Task Force should be sustained.

The focus of police reform, if elected, will be the setting up of a community policing structure and maintaining law and order through crime fighting and prevention. The role of police in intelligence gathering cannot be ignored. More policemen and high-tech equipment are required. But, the APC candidate is also now proposing a reformed police where personnel will be freed from extraneous duties such as VIP security and guard duties. But, VIP Security and provision of security for government buildings, installations and other critical assets will be transferred to The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Economy:

There is a need for a paradigm shift from the exportation of raw materials and the importation of increasingly expensive finished products. This is the point Tinubu is making in his action plan.

Besides, diversification has not been smooth. Nigeria remains a mono-product economy, with crude oil still providing foreign exchange and is the primary source of the Federal Government’s revenues.

What happens if the sector is assailed by an unbearable crisis? Agriculture is a veritable option. But, it has been neglected. A country that can feed itself resolves a major hurdle. Government should come up with incentives or impetus for farmers. Food security is as important as a successful anti-terror battle.

In Nigeria, many stakeholders have agitated for devolution. In their opinion, the Federal Government should shed its weight. The distant central government is not as close to the grassroots as the state governments. The states are in a vantage position to fully understand the problems confronting the localities. How can states grapple with these local concerns? To Tinubu, the allocation of revenue between the federal and state governments should be adjusted to give states greater flexibility to foster grassroots economic development.

He also seems to know the route to industrialisation. Under his leadership, he said Nigeria will savour an economy that produces more of the everyday items, both agricultural and manufactured goods, that define an individual’s and a nation’s standard of living.

Fiscal policy:

Dependence on oil is essentially limiting. So is the unrealistically artificial limit on government spending, particularly during this protracted moment of global economic turmoil exacerbated by domestic challenges in security. Money should be spent on infrastructural renewal. Roads should be built. Water should available, both for dam reticulation and agricultural purposes.

Tinubu’s promise to build small-scale Irrigation and water catchment systems in rural areas will boost agricultural production and employment while mitigating dangerous cycles of flood and drought in many areas. If investments are to thrive, a conducive atmosphere is non-negotiable. To encourage the use of Public-Private Partnerships, Tinubu said if given the mandate, he will work with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Finance and other relevant federal agencies to expand the availability and scope of credit guarantees to attract more private sector investment in needed infrastructure projects.

Tax reform:

Tinubu, an accomplished accountant, is conscious of the undesirability of increasing taxation, which can discourage the private sector. He has thus, proposed a progressive tax regime, characterised by the removal of harmful loopholes and efficient collection. Government must also fight corruption, inefficiency and wastage of resources. The reform of the civil service is the key. This is necessary to fight corruption, reduce bureaucracy, streamline agencies and decrease inefficiency and waste.

Tinubu has indicated a determination to ensure value engineering. It is a creative method and strategy geared towards cost reduction. He has promised to streamline the amount that government spends on itself. A cap will be placed on fiscal expenditures for the construction of government buildings and the salaries and related compensation packages of elected officials and senior personnel in the executive branch of the Federal Government. Such expenditures will have a low priority in our administration.

Also, while hardworking civil servants will receive commendation, Tinubu sounded a note of warning to impostors in the civil service to flee, saying: “We will continue the process of weeding out ghost workers, as well as ghost projects and expenditures from the system.”

Optimisation of govt. revenue:

Tinubu is an expert in internally generated revenue. In Lagos, he jerked up the revenue from N600million monthly to N14 billion. But, this time around, apart from expanding the revenue base of the Federal Government, he will block the leakages in the financial system.

Monetary policy:

Monetary policy, Tinubu said, must complement fiscal goals. He added: “Monetary policy must focus on the exchange rate, interest rate and price levels. This trio must serve the objective of fiscal policy, which is broadly shared prosperity.

“In essence, money lends nominal economic value to anyone who owns it or anything to which a monetary price is attached. Idle people and resources are said to have scant economic purpose or value. They are wrongfully derided as “useless.” When money becomes attached to them either through a living wage or capital investment, what was once idle becomes valued and productive.

“Our fiscal strategy is to spend public money in a way that maximises employment of people and resources, especially those financial institutions. By itself, good and previously idle.”

Exchange rate management:

It is acknowledged that the recent dip in the country’s exchange rate is primarily due to global supply and production shortfalls caused by global factors well beyond control. The diminished levels of oil production and the modest capacity of the manufacturing sector to expand production both serve to compound the pressure on the naira.

Further compounding our difficulty is the fact that we are tied to an ineffective regime of multiple, somewhat arbitrary exchange rates. This situation gives rise to financial dislocation, currency speculation and arbitrage. These practices divert much-needed funds away from productive endeavours that could employ hundreds of thousands of people and create products that improve average living conditions.

To ensure that exchange rate policy harmonises with our goals of optimal growth and job creation driven by industrial, agricultural and infrastructural expansion, Tinubu plans to work with the Central Bank and the financial sector to carefully review and better optimise the exchange rate regime.

He stressed: “Our economic policies shall be guided by our desire for a stronger, more stable naira founded upon a vibrant and productive real economy.”

Industrial policy:

Nigeria needs a National Industrial Plan that will, in Tinubu’s words, make it grow an industrial base to provide jobs to an expanding urban population. Granting tax holidays and low tariffs, reduction of interest rates on loans, and extending credits to industrialists are meaningful incentives.

In appreciation of the relative strength and advantages which the geo-political regions can exploit, Tinubu proposed that “in the Northwest and Northeast, new industrial hubs will focus on textiles. In the Southeast and South-south, a new hub and dry port will focus investment on labour-intensive manufacturing.

“In the Southwest, fine quality sand will be turned into the highest-quality glass items.

“In areas with deposits of clay, household items such as dishes and pottery will be manufactured In the North-Central, emphasis will be placed on solid mineral exploration and exploitation. In the Northwest and Northcentral, clandestine, environmentally harmful unlicensed gold mining activities will be ended. Regulated mining will be instituted such that environmental protection is maintained and local artisans and craftsmen can earn income turning raw gold into finished jewellery.”

The implication is that no region will be idle. There will be room for healthy competition. They can industrially grow according to their own pace. Unemployment will reduce and rural-urban drift will be minimised.

Housing:

There is a housing deficit in Nigeria. Urban dwellers are worse hit. The solutions canvassed by the APC ticket include Mortgage and Consumer Credit Reform, home ownership, which is a source of prosperity, social stability and individual pride; the review of the Land Use Act, credits and incentives to developers of housing projects to set aside a significant portion of their projects to affordable housing.

Agriculture:

Before the advent of oil, which some commentators have described as a blessing and a curse, agriculture was the mainstay of the economy.

However, only 35 per cent of arable land in Nigeria is presently cultivated. Tinubu/Shettima’s target is to increase the number to 65 per cent in four years. Global uncertainties of recent years such as COVID-19 and the Russo-Ukrainian conflict further underscore the need to ensure substantial food security for our nation. Therefore, the priority is to grow more than what Nigeria needs so that it can export the excess and alter its balance of trade.

A Tinubu government will build on the foundation laid by the current administration. We vow to help the former and his community in new and significant ways that usher in a true and complete rebirth of Nigerian agriculture. To achieve the goals of agricultural development, Tinubu hopes to pursue the following initiatives: setting up commodity boards to establish minimum prices for strategic crops such as cashew, cocoa, sesame, soya, cassava yam, rubber, okra, palm kernels, groundnut and okra; grain reserves and food storage, rural Infrastructural development, irrigation and water catchment, farm cooperatives where feasible, access to finance or low-cost loans, large-scale land clearing and setting up of a Farm Nigeria Project, with a special focus on the river basins throughout the country.

ATIKU:

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has unfolded a five-point developmental agenda. The agenda encompasses qualitative education, restructuring to foster federalism and stability; a dynamic economy for prosperity, safety and security of life and property, and unity in diversity.

Atiku described the proposal as a social contract characterised by short, medium and long-term strategies.

He said he would provide three million new jobs and lift 10 million Nigerians from poverty annually.

The candidate promised to provide 25,000 megawatts of power and ensure a refining capacity of two million barrels of crude.

In the plan titled: “My Covenant with Nigerians,’ the former vice president described himself as an experienced, courageous and result-focused leader capable of taking the country through a rough situation and making a positive difference.

The 74-page document re-echoed his 2019 manifestos, with a minor adjustment to reflect proposed solutions to post-2019 challenges.

‘The Atiku Plan’ is expected to provide a distinct economic, political and social development road map “and get Nigeria working again”. In his view, at no other time has the poverty in the quality of leadership and governance been worse than it has been since 2015.

Atiku added: “I am offering myself again to provide the desired leadership. I have a history of Economic reform and political transformation. As a private businessman of many years, I have a deep understanding of our economy and its challenges.

“As a vice president, our administration demonstrated a willingness to reform and to implement a formal development agenda, the NEEDS and SEEDS.

“As Head of the economic management team, I was instrumental in the design of a private sector revival strategy and advocated for the opening up of the economy for private sector investment in the IT sector. Today, it is undeniably the fastest growing services sector in the Nigerian economy.”

Atiku said the agenda would be guided by three basic principles, which are greater private sector participation, discontinuation of government monopoly in infrastructure, including refineries, rail transportation and power transmission, and greater market leverage in price determination and elimination of persistent price distortion due to interventionist exchange rate management policy.

The PDP flagbearer promised to increase the Gross Domestic Product per capita from USS2,000 to USS 5 00 by 2030, achieve economic diversification, expand the export base in manufacturing, oil and gas; build a knowledge-based economy and promote inclusion through job creation and liberation of the poor from poverty. Emphasising that power sector reform will be a critical policy priority, Atiku said: “By 2030, Nigeria shall make a giant stride in diversifying its sources of power and delivering up to 25,000 megawatts.”

Atiku also promised one million housing units through private sector-led effort, 5,000 kilometres of modern railway lines and 70,000 kilometres of paved road network.

The former vice president said there would be more transparency and efficiency in the management of institutions in the oil and gas sector.

He also said all government-owned refineries would be sold and new licences issued for greenfield investment in crude oil refining.

Atiku said he would reposition education by promoting research in science and technology, a robust healthcare system, vocational education and support for people with special needs.

He said: “I truly believe that an educated population forms the backbone for a progressive and prosperous society. Education is the key to unlocking opportunity, prosperity and progress. Education can and should be this key.”

Atiku has promised an all-inclusive governance structure to harness national diversity and a just environment where the rights of citizens would be protected.

On corruption, he said if elected, his government would strengthen policies and measures for detecting corruption through a strong technology infrastructure that supports the end-to-end operations of governmental businesses for transparency, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness.

He also promised to enhance whistle-blowing and witness protection policies.

OBI:

The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Gregory Obi and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed have released a seven-point manifesto on what they would do to salvage the country if elected. It is tagged, ‘Our Pact with Nigeria’. The 48-page policy document contains the Obi-Datti’s strategies for purposeful and participatory leadership for national rebirth based on seven governance priorities.

Obi said: “As your president, I Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi, my Vice President, Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed and our team pledge to:

“Secure and unite our dear nation, to manage our diversity such that no one is left behind in Nigeria; move Nigeria from consumption to production; embark on comprehensive legal and institutional reforms and practicable restructuring measures, to fight corruption, enthrone rule of law, and an all-inclusive and effective government; and prioritise Human Capital Development through robust investments in STEM education, health, and infrastructural development, with emphasis on wealth creation, distribution and sustainable development.”

He also promises to: “engineer the transition of Nigeria from fossil fuel dependency to climate and eco-friendly energy use; pursue holistic poverty eradication with emphasis on agricultural revolution through effective utilisation of our vast arable lands, particularly in Northern Nigeria, and erase Nigeria’s categorisation as the poverty capital of the world.

“Improve access to finance, Particularly to MSMEs, youths and women, to significantly reduce unemployment and insecurity.

“Ensure that in policy and practice, governance will be made more inclusive, cost-effective, transformative, and less transactional (No more sharing of the national wealth by a few)

“Ensure that our diversity will be leveraged to give women and youths, the aged and persons with disabilities, an unfettered voice in governance, and a renewed sense of patriotism and faith in Nigeria; and ensure that Nigeria is progressively better governed through legislative, executive, and judicial reforms so that the Constitutional separation of powers among the three arms of government is properly followed and the three tiers of government allowed to function independently and jointly for a more inclusive and sustainable Nigeria.”

Security:

Top on the list is Obi’s plan to secure Nigeria, end banditry and insurgency; unite the country and manage “our diversity”. The LP candidate also promised production-centred growth for food security and export, moving Nigeria from consumption to production.

Restructuring:

He also listed restructuring the polity through effective legal and institutional reforms, to fight corruption and enthrone rule of law and an inclusive and effective government.

Economy:

Obi, a former Anambra State governor, also promised to move Nigeria from an oil-dependent economy to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) with massive investment in new technologies.

Also, he plans to expand physical infrastructure with a focus on critical sectors like power, multi-modal transportation, and gas pipeline, through efficient public-private partnership (PPP) reforms.

He also promised youth engagement and human capital development that improves the quality of life of workers and families, and productivity-enhancing education that empowers labour competitiveness.

Foreign policy:

Finally, Obi has also promised a robust foreign policy that restores Nigeria’s strategic relevance.

KWANKWASO:

The New Nigeria People’s Party’s (NNPP) presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has unveiled a 60-page blueprint for the governance of the country if elected as president next year. Kwankwaso, at the unveiling ceremony of the document titled “My Pledges To You”, promised to listen more and allow Nigerians to dictate the tune of his administration.

The NNPP flag bearer is the third among the four leading contenders for the seat to officially present a blueprint on plans for governance if given a chance to direct the affairs of the country.

The major highlights of Kwankwaso’s manifesto are as follows:

Leadership, justice:

The former Kano governor said if elected, his administration will provide patriotic and competent leadership that is guided by the seven time-tested principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership by example.

“We will be fair and just to all, and we shall ensure fairness and justice at all levels of governance,” he said.

Tackling insecurity:

Kwankwao said insecurity has contributed to heightened, and increasing despair and hopelessness in Nigeria. He said if elected, his administration will tackle the menace using a “special approach”.

“In our arrangement, we shall use the military and the police optimally to ensure that terrorism, banditry, kidnapping-for-ransom, militancy, insurgency, oil theft and bunkering, communal clashes, and all other forms of security breaches that are making our country unsafe are tackled head-on and brought to a permanent stop,” the manifesto reads.

“The size of the Nigerian Armed Forces will be built to about one million active service men and women. This entails recruiting an additional of about 750 thousand more personnel into the armed forces.

“The size of the Nigerian Police will also be built to about one million active service men and women. This will bring the police-to-citizen ratio to 1:220 (much better than the UN-recommended minimum of 1:450).

Economy:

He said his administration will run an emergency rescue plan to salvage the economy, protect the citizens’ savings, restore fiscal discipline, and improve crude oil and gas production.

Kwankwaso said he would also improve non-oil revenue, target inflation, save the naira from the current “uncontrolled devaluation”, and limit capital flight from the country.

“We shall expand the tax base and the tax net by ensuring that businesses that are actively avoiding and/or evading tax are brought into the tax system. We shall create the enabling environment where trade, investments and businesses will blossom and manufacturing (re-industrialization) will be the pivot upon which the Nigerian economy will stand,” the document reads.

“The economy will be actively diversified. Aggressive efforts will be made to strengthen the non-oil sectors, hone the potentialities, harness the opportunities and harvest the yields for the good of all Nigerians.”

According to the document, fiscal discipline will be restored by reducing the size of the Federal Government’s recurrent expenditure to bring down the level of deficit.

Kwankwaso said given the level of the deficit, the capital budgets will be overhauled to improve value for money by prioritising only key infrastructure projects that will have a positive impact on production and competitiveness.

Restructuring:

On restructuring, he said his “government will listen to Nigerians. We are not going to be rigid on restructuring. Whatever Nigerians want will be given to them. These documents will be transmitted into the local languages so that people who don’t read or understand English will read.”

Fuel subsidy:

Though silent on whether his administration would end the controversial petrol subsidy gulping trillions of naira annually, Kwankwaso said Nigeria had lost billions to subsidy, hence, if elected his administration would assess past subsidy regimes in the overall interest of Nigeria.

Petroleum subsidies were first introduced in Nigeria in the 1970s as a response to the oil price shock of 1973. The situation of shock led to a global rise in oil prices and if the international rates were to be used would have made Nigerians pay more, thereby forcing the government to regulate local prices for energy products.

Job creation:

He said jobs will be created at multiple levels through the economic revamping strategy as well as through constructive engagement with the youth by honing their skill sets and providing them with the necessary support.

“More and more jobs will be created through targeted investments, special accelerated projects and programmes,” the document reads.

Fight against corruption:

The Kwankwaso administration aims to prevent corruption by running a transparent and open government, using the “latest advanced technologies to capture, analyse, and share data to prevent, detect, and deter corrupt behaviour; expose corrupt activities and risks that may otherwise remain hidden”.

Another agenda in the manifesto is to keep the public sector honest, transparent and accountable, as well as ensure that public sector employees act in the public interest.

Education:

Kwankwaso said his administration will treat education as an investment, not an expenditure. He said his administration will mop up the 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria in the next four years, and review provisions of the Universal Basic Education Act with emphasis on gender equity in primary and secondary school enrolment.

“For our administration, no Nigerian child shall be denied the opportunity to write WAEC, NECO, JAMB, etc., because of their inability to pay exorbitant registration/examination fees. These examinations shall be free and all application forms for admission into tertiary education institutions (TEIs) shall also be free,” the document said.

Health:

The Kwankwaso administration aims to reform the health sector to ensure professional accountability, quality of service, and professionalism.

He said access to medical education will be expanded while more professional personnel will be trained to serve communities.

He also said in conjunction with states and local government councils, free natal and maternity healthcare services will be provided for families.

“In conjunction with other levels of care provisioning, our administration shall coordinate the provision of mobile clinics to access under-served communities across the country,” he said.

Food security:

The Kwankwaso administration also pledged to revolutionise farming practices by investing in technology, training, and extension work “with the objective of attaining national food security as well as capturing a substantial market share of food in the African continent”.

He added: “We pledge to ensure the deployment of global best practices in establishment and management of forestry, plantation, animal husbandry, livestock, poultry, and fisheries as well as guarantee an agriculture value chain that protects the farmers, the livestock owners as well as the consumers.”

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