The South West Security Think Tank Forum (SWSTTF) has thrown its support behind the ongoing reforms by President Bola Tinubu-led government.
The forum through its convener, Major General Dayo Olukoju (rtd), noted that reforms of immeasurable dimensions and benefits usually come with some pains but are needed to place the country back on the path of sustainable development.
In a statement, the group referred to countries that had in the past undertaken serious reforms citing the UK under former prime minister Margret Thatcher as one example.
“Margret Thatcher’s early reforms in the economy, trade unionism and social sectors, painful as they were, later helped to transform the British economy and society and shaped the country’s trajectory for decades after,” the statement partly read.
It also cited China‘s Deng Xiaoping’s market-oriented reforms of 1970s to 1990s, which transformed China’s economy leading to rapid economic growth, rising standards of living, and increased cultural freedoms.
“The result of the reforms has seen China’s GDP grow from $150 billion in 1978 to almost $18 Trillion by 2023.
“In both cases, the two leaders were tenacious despite serious opposition to some of the policies inherent in their reforms.”
Major General Olukoju, rtd commended the initiatives of President Tinubu and called on Nigerians to endure the pains today for a better and prosperous tomorrow.
He identified some areas in which President Tinubu has kept to the promises he made during his electioneering campaign, saying the President has demonstrated leadership in the balancing of appointment of service chiefs to promote a national outlook, infrastructure development in the railway and road sectors, approval of a new minimum wage, introduction of students loan, reforms in the aviation sector, headlong focus to address the issue of corruption occasioned by oil subsidy, increased allocation to the states, investment in CNG to provide cheaper alternative in the transportation sector, as well as many other initiatives.
On the issue of security, the Forum took a holistic assessment of the current situation across the country and commended the efforts of the military especially in the recent gains across the North West.
The group noted the support to the military through the provision of new weapons and equipment as well as the recent approval of payment of group life assurance to families of soldiers who died in the line of duty. It emphasized that with more support in terms of weapons and equipment, and increased synergy among the services and other security agencies, peace and stability will soon be restored in the troubled areas.
The group, however, called on Mr President to take urgent steps to increase the strength of the military so that it could have enough troops to dominate many of the unoccupied spaces that provide a haven for bandits and criminals across the country.
It reminded the President of his call for massive recruitment during his campaign before the last election and stated that the time to start it in a gradual and progressive manner is now.
“The Forum considers massive recruitment into the military at this moment as expedient to combat the current threats and contribute to tackling the challenge of unemployment in the country.”
