Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed President Muhammadu Buhari’s new plan for Nigerians amid the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.
Speaking to reporters on Friday in Abuja, Osinbajo said the president is worried about the welfare of Nigerians amid the lockdown in some states.
He noted the federal government has devised plans to improve the citizens’ well being throughout the period of the pandemic and as the country faces economic turbulence.
The vice president also said Buhari expressed serious concerns about the problems that may be associated with the lockdown.
“Many of our people work for a daily wage, they have to go out to work, so we have to think in terms of how to ensure that we are able to give them some succour during the period when they are not able to work.
“Some of those issues are the issues Mr President wanted me to discuss fully with him. Of course, we have the Economic Sustainability Committee and shortly we are going to submit a full report to Mr President on our thoughts and ideas.
“Mr President asked me to meet with him in particular to resolve some of the pressing issues around COVID-19 and also around the economic problems that we are seeing already,” he added.
Speaking on his engagement with the president as the head of the Economic Sustainability Committee, he said it was part of the regular briefing.
“Sometimes I come physically as you have seen me today, other times I brief him on the phone or by video conference.
“What we are concerned about is how to ensure that the economy remains stable, that jobs are protected and if possible, more jobs are created.”
When I opened this page to read this reply, I was expecting to read that certain measures had been taken in the right direction by the President. But the report here still talks of intentions. Has the President never heard of the saying,”That the graveyard is paved with good intentions?” Intentions are not what we need at this moment. That’s not enough for the average Lagosian who has had to stay home and away from work for three weeks. Unlike Mr. President and his Vice, this class of Nigerians are not likely to get paid for the lockdown.