We are more honest than PDP govt – Osinbajo
The Vice -President , Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to improve the economic well- being of Nigerians, particularly the micro, small and medium scale business owners .
He also said the administration would continue to be honest with the people and there would be no room for the looting of the taxpayers ’ money, saying the current government was better than the previous government in the area of honesty with people’ s money.
The VP stated this at the inauguration of the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinics in Ondo State , held at the International Event Centre, Akure , the state capital on Thursday.
According to him , the Buhari ’ s administration is committed to ensuring that small business owners have opportunities to access loans to boost their businesses without passing through rigorous conditions unlike in the previous years.
He said , “ We are not going to steal people’ s money, this is the difference between us and the previous government . This money doesn ’ t belong to us , it belongs to the people. The problem of Nigeria will reduce if we don’ t steal money.
“ We will hold ourselves accountable to the people of Nigeria , we will express our good leadership , it may be tough but we will move forward . They said we are arresting looters and we have not jailed anybody but we will continue to arrest and put them on trial . ”
He urged the beneficiaries of the interest -free MSME loans to use the money for the purpose it meant and ensure the repayment of the money as and when due .
In his remarks, the Ondo State Governor , Mr . Rotimi Akeredolu, said the MSME Clinics, inaugurated in the state was aimed at improving the economic well -being of the people and thus end poverty in the state.
He said , “ Today ’ s programme further underscores the determination of the Federal Government to drive the country’ s economy towards self -reliance , using this platform , as a delivery tool for development.
“ There can be no better demonstration of serious commitment on the part of the government than this direct involvement at the highest level of authority. “
In her remarks, the Executive Director of the Bank of Industry, Mrs . Toyin Adeniji, said the programme was being organised by the Federal Government to boost small and medium scale business .
She noted that the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme was also a government initiative being executed by the Bank of Industry, adding that it had succeeded in given out micro-credit loans to the beneficiaries all over the country.
“ The GEEP has given micro-credit loans to the 774 local governments and the Federal Capital Territory and also we have 600, 000 beneficiaries while half of them have received GEEP loans, ” Adeniji disclosed.