The Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that more technocrats were brought into office in his decision to expand his cabinet.

The National Chairman of DPP, Mr Gershom Benson, gave the advice in his opening remarks at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

Benson also advised Buhari to carryout broad consultation before making his appointments.

President Buhari

“What we want is an inclusive government that will draw Nigeria out of present situation.

“More technocrats should be brought into the office. We are looking at managing Nigeria’s resources for Nigerians so that the economy can change from what it is.

“Like the president said he was going to expand the ministries, some of the ministries were compressed; like three or two ministries into one.

“If they decide to loosen them up, they should use that opportunity to bring in more technocrats to improve the economy to benefit everybody,” Benson said.

The chairman, who commended the efforts of the government and the security agencies in addressing security challenge, especially Boko Haram in the North-East, said a lot needed to be done.

“The government said we are out of recession, to us as ordinary people on the streets, there is still a lot to be done.

“The economy is not yet out of doldrums, because our roads are still very bad and the prices are yet to come down.

“So we advice government to do something to reduce the effects of recession because people are still suffering.”

He also advised the government to allow the law takes its course on
the circumstances that led to the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, wanted for alleged fraud.

He also that the party had started its preparations for the 2019 general elections with the determination to win as many elective positions at all levels as possible.

“DPP is going to field candidates in all the elective positions; from the states to the federal level. We are working hard to reposition our party to achieve that feat.”

DPP was among the few political parties that complied with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) directive for party to submit its financial report for the elections.

Benson, however, acknowledged that DPP had marginal participation in the 2015 general elections.

He said the party was also one of the few political parties that complied with INEC directive for each party to a federal secretariat within Abuja.

“Recently, INEC also advised parties to include Alternative Dispute Resolution as part of their constitution. Our party is working toward it”.