- While calling for more investment in education, he said past governments did not judiciously use the resources of the country when oil prices were high.
President Bola Tinubu says lack of sufficient investment in education culminated in the current parlous and troubling state of the nation.
This is even as he blamed previous governments for the hardship that pervades the nation.
He spoke when he hosted the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, in Abuja.
Tinubu said he was optimistic that Nigeria can progress through collaboration and inclusiveness.
While calling for more investment in education, he said past governments did not judiciously use the resources of the country when oil prices were high.
“Regardless of party differences of the past and difficulty of the present, you still believe in me and what we all plan for this country.
“I thank you very much; no one will do it better than us. I have travelled the world and seen how developed countries have done it for themselves through collaboration, inclusiveness and financial structure.
“Yes, there is hardship, but how did we get here? What did we do when we had very high crude production?
“We neglected our communities; we neglected the goose that lays the golden eggs; we forgot even to give them a good standard of living.
“We forgot to educate our children. Go round and look at the dilapidated schools. The education environment must be decent enough for pupils to want to learn.
“We can complain from now till eternity that the school enrolment is low. But did we do anything to encourage the enrolment process? We must ask ourselves because it is a matter of conscience,” he said.
This comes as Nigeria contends with unprecedented economic hardship engendered by the twin policies of fuel subsidy removal and naira floating.
The removal of petrol subsidy on the president’s first day in office had tripled the pump price of fuel.
As of Friday, filling stations in Abuja sell a litre of petrol at between N950 and N1,100.