The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) says it was deeply concerned about the recent statements made by some ministers under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, which seem to be unrealistic, unattainable and out of touch with the reality of the Nigerian situation.

“We urge these ministers to stop making dubious promises and focus on doing the work for which their principal appointed them or were they appointed to keep dishing out outlandish and nonsensical talks about things they never intended to achieve?” the group queried in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Sunday.

“Governing a grossly underdeveloped society made so by thieving politicians of their party, is beyond reeling out promises like utopian manifestos. It requires seriousness of purpose, accountability, transparency and effective implementation of policies and programmes that will address the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian people," Onwubiko added.

Furthermore, the HURIWA' National Coordinator said: “We are not impressed by the claims of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who says the proposed Abuja-Lagos Supersonic highway will be completed in four years. Umahi who stated this in a press conference in Lagos on Saturday, noted that driving from Lagos to Abuja will take 4 hours when the project is completed.

“This is a blatant lie and an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians who have suffered for decades from the poor state of roads and infrastructure in the country. How can a project that has not even started be completed in four years when previous administrations have failed to deliver on similar promises? How can a supersonic highway be built in a country that lacks basic amenities such as electricity, water and security? How can Nigerians trust a Minister who has been accused of corruption and mismanagement of funds meant for road projects?

We are also not convinced by the statement of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who has said that under his watch, no Nigerian would be an illiterate.”

In 2022, the former Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, said 31 per cent of the nation’s population could not read or write. This shows that out of 223,804,632 Nigerians population, 68,379,436 cannot read or write. However, Mamman, in Abuja, on Friday during the commemoration of the 2023 International Literacy Day, said the President has directed that every Nigerian must be educated.

“This is a mere rhetoric and a mockery of the educational sector that has been neglected and underfunded by successive governments. How can a Minister whose ministry has serially failed to address the issues of teachers' welfare, curriculum reform, quality assurance, access and equity, infrastructure and learning materials claim to eradicate illiteracy in Nigeria? How can Nigerians trust a Minister who has yer to publish a plan of action on what he intends to implement and their timeline to enhance literacy?

“We are also not moved by the declaration of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, who has restated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment towards creating 10 million jobs through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. This is a false and empty promise that has no basis in reality. How can a minister who has failed to provide humanitarian assistance and relief for millions of Nigerians affected by conflicts, disasters and poverty claim to create 10 million jobs? How can Nigerians trust a Minister whose ministry under the immediate past dispensation was accused of diverting funds meant for social intervention programmes such as N-Power, TraderMoni and School Feeding Programme? This same Minister for Humanitarian Affairs was allegedly caught on camera sharing dollars to her staff when she was the National women's leader of APC and soon after she was appointed? In what way does she plan to create the employment opportunities and what is the timeframe?

The civil rights group, therefore, called on these Ministers to stop deceiving Nigerians with their unrealistic and unattainable promises and focus on doing their jobs with honesty, integrity and competence. "We also call on President Bola Tinubu to hold these Ministers accountable for their actions and inactions and ensure that they deliver on their mandates or face sanctions.

"The Secretary to the Government of the Federation should coordinate efficient monitoring of these ministers and the federal government should set up a performance assessment mechanisms whereby the Ministers are marked quarterly and if any failed to reach certain acceptable standard of performance based on empirical data, then the said Minister should be sacked forthwith," the statement read in part.

The group also reminded these Ministers that governing Nigeria was not a joke or a game. "It is a serious responsibility that requires vision, passion and dedication. We urge these ministers to allow their success to speak for them. We warn these ministers that Nigerians are watching them closely and will not hesitate to demand for their resignation or removal if they fail to perform, Onwubiko stated.

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