By Emma Una

CALABAR—NIGERIA’S economic situation is worsening daily and the government needs to rise to the challenge by initiating policies that will boost the naira to avoid a collapse in the welfare of Nigerians, especially the low income earners.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Mr Gabriel Fasoto, President of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, APBN, the umbrella body for all professional associations in Nigeria, who stated this in Calabar, Cross River State, at a two-day retreat of the association, said that the management of the nation’s resources leaves much to be desired.

He said: “Our government is operating below the general expectation of the citizenry and apparently needs to sit up in many areas as seen in the free fall of the naira against major currencies in the world, a trend that is impacting negatively on the people particularly the low income earners.

“The unprecedented level of corruption as recently unraveled through the arms deal probe and the high rate of unemployment among our youths cause unstable government. Therefore, the President and his team must initiate policies that will bring reforms based on his agenda of change.

“We have an abundance of professionals who are fired up in their vision to assist government succeed through constructive and creative deployment of skills in all areas and we implore government to take advantage of their services.”

He called on President Buhari to use only those imbued with vision, drive, courage and humility to provide services that would be of value to the country and not rely solely on political consideration and patronage in engaging people to serve in his administration.