2nd January, 2016
Some residents of Nsukka on Saturday expressed mixed reactions to the Presidential Media Chat that took place last Wednesday.
Residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) applauded the Federal Government’s efforts to recover looted funds while others blamed it for lack of information on the whereabouts of Chibok Girls.
Mrs Ndidi Okwueze, a politician, said that Buhari in the chat reiterated that he is committed to fight corruption and called on Nigerians to give him maximum support.
“If those who have looted the country’s money are punished and the funds returned to government coffers, it will go a long way to tell people that it is no longer business as usual.
“The huge amount of money looted is responsible for poverty, insecurity and unemployment in the country.
“The looted funds could have been used to build industries and basic infrastructure but they are diverted into private pockets.
“This country needs a person like Buhari to restore the past glory of the country,’’ she said.
Mr Paul Obodo, a civil servant, commended the president for not tampering with the N18,000 minimum wage of federal civil servants and urged him to advise the state governors do same.
“With the inflation in the country, the N18,000 minimum wage for civil servants is no longer enough not to talk of reducing it.
“Government should put measures in place to increase minimum wage as soon as the economy improves.
“Mr President should advise state governors not to reduce the N18,000 minimum wage to avoid any misunderstanding with the Nigeria Labour Congress,’’ he said.
Mr Emmanuel Dike, a lawyer, however said he was not comfortable with president’s comment that former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki and Mr Nnamdi Kalu should not be granted bail.
“For a court of competent jurisdiction in its wisdom to grant them bail and government keeps re-arresting them immediately they are granted bail is not the best,’’ he said.