The 2023 general election will be the first time since 2007 that the incumbent president will not be on the ballot. This has created a level playing field for candidates competing in the elections, especially the top three candidates.

Currently, the campaigns are still ongoing before the elections. The campaign period has become a way for presidential candidates to address current issues and make promises to voters about what they plan to do once elected.

Since an all-candidate presidential debate seems unlikely given the background, it has become necessary to see if the leading candidates have answered some important questions.

in a previous Article, questions were asked about what the presidential candidates should do to improve the country. Taking a look at the manifestos of the top three candidates and political parties (in the order they are published), this article will examine their plans for the economy based on their manifestos.

Atiku Abubakar of the PDP

Atiku was Vice President of the country between 1999 and 2007 under the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. He is no stranger to the Nigerian political scene. He has unsuccessfully competed in presidential primaries since 2007 and was his party’s standard-bearer in 2007, 2019, and 2023. On May 28, 2022, Atiku was declared the winner of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and weeks later he elected governor. from Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.

Atiku released a 74-page manifesto titled “My Deal with Nigerians,” detailing his plans for the country.

Exchange rate: The candidate plans to maintain exchange rate stability and institutionalize fiscal discipline.

Fuel allowance: The candidate plans to immediately review government spending on PMS subsidies to free up fiscal resources for the government.

Nigerian Exports: The candidate plans to do a comprehensive review of the non-oil sector. Also, plans to increase the non-oil sector consisting of primary and processed products to contribute 20% of GDP by 2030.

Tax Income: The candidate plans many tax reforms including simplifying personal and corporate tax filings and creating a transparent corporate tax registry, tackling multiple taxes, making the tax environment investment friendly, tax exemptions and refunds for MSMEs and SMPs, harmonizing state and federal tax laws. .

Unemployment: The candidate plans to solve unemployment through four pillars of job creation that are based on a growing economy, a productive MSME sector, innovative skills and entrepreneurship programs, and strengthening policies and institutions.

Rate of inflation: The candidate plans to bring inflation to single digits.

Education system: The candidate plans the provision of quality affordable and accessible education up to the secondary level. Likewise, he plans to allocate at least 25 percent of the annual budget to education.

  • Likewise, the plans for devolution of powers in the education sector so that the respective state governments assume control of the federal and unitary schools located in their area, among others. Also, plans to reward high-performing states in education.
  • The candidate also plans to promote public-private collaboration, the construction and rehabilitation of current infrastructures and the revision of the educational curriculum.

Provision of health care: The plans of the candidates for the health sector are articulated on seven pillars that are; Undertake administrative reforms, facilitate universal health coverage, expand access to primary health care, improve care and clinical governance, unlock the market potential of the health sector, the health care delivery initiative and increase the number of professionals in the health sector

Electricity supply: The candidate plans to improve the power transmission network, empower the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and intensify rural electrification projects to ensure access to electricity for more than 85 million Nigerians who currently do not have access to the electricity grid. .

APC Tinubu Ball

The former governor of Lagos state from 1999 to 2007 and a former senator is currently running for the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party that was instrumental in its establishment. Tinubu along with his running mate Kashim Shettima released an 80-page document titled “Hope Renewed, 2023.”

Exchange rate: The candidate plans to work with the Central Bank and the financial sector to carefully review and better optimize the exchange rate regime.

Fuel allowance: The candidate plans to phase out the fuel subsidy and maintain the underlying social contract between the government and the people. In addition, plans to use funds that would have been used for subsidies for specific infrastructure, agriculture, and social welfare programs.

Nigerian export: The candidate plans to invest in the agricultural sector to diversify the economy.

Tax Income: The candidate plans to create a progressive tax regime, plug harmful loopholes, improve collection efficiency and give people a greater sense of responsibility for their taxes. In addition, plans to introduce tax relief, tax rebates and tax credits where necessary.

Unemployment: The candidate plans to create new jobs and cut youth unemployment in half in four years.

Rate of inflation: The candidate plans to carefully assess the sources and causes of inflation and deploy the right mix of fiscal and monetary tools to contain it.

Oil revenues: The candidate plans to safeguard oil revenues by curbing oil theft: he plans to establish a Special Surveillance and Enforcement Unit whose sole mandate will be to protect the nation’s pipelines by deploying technological interventions (stationary aerial monitoring platforms, drones) to curb interruptions in production.

Education system: The candidate plans to restructure and improve education in the country through the educational infrastructure. Also, improve tertiary education through student loans and special education funds.

Provision of health care: The candidate plans to improve health care through health sector governance and leadership, equity and quality of primary and secondary health care, preventive care, health financing, and National Health Insurance, Caring for Healthcare Workers and Jon’s Creation, The Next Public Health Emergency, National Investigation, and Mental Health and Drug Abuse.

Electricity supply: Improving electricity through generation and transmission targets, eliminating estimated billing, supporting national electricity meter manufacturing, renewable energy schemes, rural electrification, electricity sector governance reform and Nigeria’s first energy policy.

Peter Obi of the Labor Party

The former governor of Anambra State served from 2007 to 2014. Peter Obi reportedly created a third force in the Nigerian political space ahead of the election following his red carpet run to the Labor Party (LP). Together with his running mate, Yussuf Datti Baba-Ahmed he presented a 72-page manifesto titled: IT IS POSSIBLE: OUR PACT WITH NIGERIANS.

Exchange rate: The candidate plans to simplify the exchange rate regime, but discontinue multiple exchange rates.

Fuel allowance: The candidate plans to incentivize the middle segment of the oil sector by promoting privately owned small- and medium-scale refineries or modular refineries, to help reduce the importation of refined oil.

Nigerian Exports: The candidate intends to shift the emphasis from consumption to production through a production-focused economy that is also export-oriented.

Tax Income: The candidate plans to empower federal and state finance ministries to harmonize taxes and tax databases, consolidate all tax databases into one centralized system, and determine tax delimitation.

Unemployment: By solving unemployment, the candidate plans to empower young people with digital skills to get jobs abroad in the new gig economy. In addition, create jobs through the sports, creative, electrical and other sectors.

Public revenue: The candidate plans to reduce the cost of governance. In addition, immediately review the recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye Commission on the restructuring of the Federal Civil Service for its implementation.

Education system: The candidate plans to create education policies like “No Child Left Behind” and address funding for UBEC and TETFUND. In addition, the Ministry of Education plans to develop a public-private model that involves private corporations assuming administrative and financing responsibilities in a specially restructured tax plan.

Provision of health care: The candidate plans to commit at least 15 percent of the annual budget to health care. Also, stop medical tourism and encourage public-private financing of healthcare. Plus, provide coverage to the poorest 133 million Nigerians, including pregnant women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Electricity supply: The candidate plans to improve the electricity sector through transmission, generation, distribution and financing. This includes upgrading the national grid and completing the $2.3 billion Nigeria-Siemens network upgrade deal. In addition, the solar energy revolution throughout the country, especially in the north. The creation of 100,000 mini-grids by the end of 2024 and generating 5,000 direct and 100,000 indirect jobs in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Finally,

The manifestos of the three main political candidates show their plans for the country if they are elected. As Nigerians go to the polls in the coming weeks, they must vote for who best answers the questions posed in this article.