Answers on Governance
What Atiku Abubakar's published plans say about Governance. Open any answer to read it in full, see the page it comes from, and share it.
60 answered questions
- How will you ensure transparency and accountability in tracking your promises and public spending? Thank you for standing with me, and for trusting me with your vote. I don't want you to simply take my word on anything. That is why I am building Ask AA into a Presidential Promi…
- What will you do to unite former primary rivals and strengthen the party for the general elections? I appeal to all those who contested for various positions in our primaries to close ranks with us. In particular, I invite Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu…
- What is Ask AA, and how will you ensure transparency and accountability in government? Thank you for reaching out to me on this platform. This is Ask AA, a place I built for you to engage with me directly on government policies and initiatives. As it grows, it will…
- What is your vision for transparent governance, women's rights, and youth investment in Nigeria? Thank you for standing with me. I am determined to keep fighting for transparent governance, for institutions that serve citizens rather than exploit them, and for a political cul…
- What kind of relationship do you want to build with citizens, and how should they hold you accountable? You're welcome. I appreciate you taking the time to ask, and I mean it when I say the greatest service you can do is keep insisting that I earn your trust through ideas, character…
- What are your plans to reform the civil service and improve welfare and service delivery? On civil service reform, I have said that my administration would have undertaken extensive reforms of public sector institutions to maximise the impact of our reforms. Within thi…
- How will you listen to and consult poor Nigerians before making decisions that affect them? On your first question, I believe a government that listens only after Nigerians cry out has stopped listening to the people it was elected to serve. That is why I am committed to…
- Will you deliver on your plans and ensure every vote counts? Thank you for trusting me with your vote, and for standing ready to carry this message to your friends. That means more to me than I can fully say. I want you to hold me to what I…
- Why can't Nigeria build a strong, ideology-based opposition to improve accountability like America's two-party system? On opposition and accountability, I have called on political leaders across every party line to forge a strong coalition, one that gives you a credible opposition capable of steer…
- How will you actually execute your reform agenda once in office? You are right that execution is everything, and that is exactly how I mean to lead. I have said that reforms can sometimes fail, and I will not underestimate the delivery challeng…
- How will you stay connected to ordinary citizens and keep listening to their struggles if elected? I believe political leadership and active citizenship matter because they are how we work together to build a country that works for all who live in it, and as a leader, my duty i…
- What is this platform for, and how will you ensure transparency and accountability? I'm glad to have you here. This platform, Ask AA, is one I have built as a public information portal, a place for Nigerians to engage with me directly on government policies and i…
- What concrete reforms will you pursue to ensure institutional independence and restore trust in state transparency? I believe institutions must act without fear or favour, and that is the standard I will hold them to. I have called out what happens when an agency like the EFCC is weaponised aga…
- What will you do to promote transparent governance, women's rights, and youth investment? I am determined to keep fighting for transparent governance, for institutions that serve citizens rather than exploit them, and for a political culture that honours merit above me…
- Why do government policies fail to help poor citizens, and why do connections determine jobs instead of merit? Good morning to you, and thank you for speaking so plainly to me. On jobs going to those with connections or money rather than merit, I will say this clearly: your surname, politi…
- What is ADC doing to ensure free and fair FCT council elections and future electoral reforms? Thank you for reaching out, and for the trust you place in me by raising this directly. On the FCT Council elections, here is what I can tell you about what we, in the African Dem…
- Why won't you partner with the NDC and pick your vice president from there to unite the opposition? On your question, what I can tell you is this: I have made more sacrifice than most to protect the principle of power rotation in this country. In 1993, I withdrew to make way for…
- How will you make government more accountable to ordinary people? I want to lay the record open for you to examine yourself, rather than asking you to take my word for it. Through this platform, which will grow into a Presidential Promise Tracke…
- What will be the main focus of your administration? My administration's agenda will focus on the following things: subsidy, education, security and streamlining the size of the Federal Government. Education matters because we need…
- Why did the opposition coalition with Obi and Kwankwaso fail? The idea of the opposition coalition was conceived to bring together political leaders who shared concerns about having a united front to challenge the Tinubu administration. Pete…
- How will communities be able to report problems and hold authorities accountable? I will create feedback systems that allow communities to report challenges and hold authorities accountable. This gives your community a direct way to raise issues and ensure they…
- How can citizens report a stolen or abandoned project and track government spending? I will launch an online "Promise Tracker" portal, built on open government standards, so that live budget spending, contract awards, and performance metrics are published for ever…
- How will you ensure that state and local governments are also accountable for money they receive from the Federal Government? I will push to make government spending more accountable and results-driven at every level. That means passing legislation requiring federal, state, and local governments to publi…
- Would your government act on the bills for women’s political representation that have repeatedly failed? Yes, I am committed to removing the barriers that keep women out of political life. My plan sets measurable inclusion targets for women in political appointments at federal, state…
- What will your government do about illegal mining that is polluting rivers and destroying farmland? I will organize artisanal miners into formal cooperatives, so their work is brought into a proper, accountable structure. I will deploy an expanded Mining Marshal corps to halt il…
- What is your plan to reform how government budgets and awards contracts? I will shift government to zero-based budgeting, linking every naira spent to our development priorities, measurable results, and public impact. This is part of reforming budgetin…
- What kind of elections do you want to see in Nigeria? I want elections where you can vote without fear, where results are transparently counted and transmitted, where winners govern and losers accept the verdict of the people. None o…
- What are you saying about the Osun State election? I am saying that the police, the military and INEC belong to all of Nigeria, not to any one party. We are asking only for what the Constitution and democracy guarantee every Niger…
- What do you expect from INEC during elections like the one in Osun? I have said clearly that Osun is a test. There must be no mysterious glitches, no unexplained delays, and no manipulation of the process. Election materials must arrive promptly,…
- What do you think needs to change about how Nigeria treats people in power versus everyone else? I believe we must change the Nigeria where there is one standard for those in power and another standard for everyone else. That is part of what we must build differently: a Niger…
- What is your overall approach to governing, across the economy, security and other areas? My approach is consistent across every area, from the economy to governance, security and human development: I will fix what is broken, build what is missing, and ensure that gove…
- What do you think democracy should actually do for ordinary Nigerians? Democracy is not merely about conducting elections. It must create opportunities, protect lives, and reward enterprise. It must give every young Nigerian confidence that hard work…
- Will NYSC still be compulsory under your plan? No. I want to make participation in NYSC voluntary, so young Nigerians can choose pathways that align with their goals and national priorities. Alongside this, I will prioritize N…
- How will Nigerians be able to track your promises and see how public money is spent? Ask Atiku Abubakar will transform into a Presidential Promise Tracker portal, applying Open Government Partnership standards to publish live budget spending, contract awards, and…
- Why do you think it matters to look back at how the government has performed? Looking back at a government's record is your right as a citizen. It is how we decide whether those who hold power deserve more time. I have looked back, at what fuel costs, what…
- What will you do to ensure every vote counts? I will work to end election rigging. I will respect the independence of the electoral commission and support the prompt publication of results from every polling unit. Anyone caug…
- What will be your main priority from your first day in office? From my first day in office, I will put affordability and the protection of life at the centre of government. I will work to bring down the costs of food, fuel and power, improve…
- What do you think should happen to the officials responsible for the deaths of those arrested for illegal mining? I believe every official involved in the arrest, transportation and detention of these Nigerians must be identified, suspended and subjected to an independent criminal investigati…
- What do you think about the government giving tax waivers to businesses while resisting policies meant to lower costs for ordinary people? I have said this is selective compassion, not economic principle. The same government that routinely grants waivers, tax credits, incentives and concessions to businesses turns ar…
- What do you think government's role should be when it comes to producers and consumers? I believe a competent government should be able to protect both the producer and the consumer. That is the standard I hold any policy to, including my proposal for a production su…
- How do you plan to involve young people in shaping your government? I am not just asking young Nigerians to campaign for me. I am asking you to build with me, to take ownership of the future we are proposing, and to participate directly in shaping…
- How will you make sure government help actually reaches the people who need it? I am determined to strengthen our national data systems, including conducting a credible population census and building reliable social registries. This will allow us to use data-…
- How will you handle Nigeria's relationships with other countries? I will maintain diversified partnerships across major global economies, rather than depending on any single country or bloc. I will negotiate agreements that protect Nigeria's sov…
- What will you do about politicians who defect to another party after being elected? I want to stop defections that betray the people who voted. I will work to strengthen the laws and close the loopholes that let elected officials switch parties without consequenc…
- How will you make sure electoral officials are appointed fairly and not controlled by the executive? I will remove direct executive control over the appointment of electoral officers so our elections have independence, credibility, and public trust. This means setting up an indep…
- Will you allow people to run for office without belonging to a political party? Yes. I will introduce independent candidacy with clear and fair regulations, so qualified Nigerians can run for public office without belonging to a political party. To keep it cr…
- What will you do about public officials using immunity to escape accountability? I will reform executive immunity to protect governance, not corruption. Public officials will be able to carry out their duties without unnecessary distraction, but no one will be…
- What will you do to help women, youths, and persons with disabilities get into political positions? I am determined to open the door wider. We will introduce measurable inclusion targets for women, youths, and persons with disabilities in political appointments at federal, state…
- What will you do to include women, youths, and persons with disabilities in government? I am committed to making sure women, youths, and persons with disabilities are meaningfully included in political appointments, decision-making, and elective offices. This means p…
- Will you publish how lawmakers vote? Yes. I will publish the voting records of all legislators on a regular basis, quarterly or per legislative session, so you can see how your representatives vote.
- How will you make the justice system work better for ordinary people? I am determined to reduce the legal technicalities that delay or frustrate justice, so cases can move forward fairly. I will remove corrupt judges and officials, strengthen discip…
- What is your plan for informal businesses that are not registered? I want to bring informal businesses into the formal economy by making it beneficial, not burdensome. I will provide tax amnesty or grace periods for informal businesses that regis…
- How will states work together under your plan? States will remain the federating units, but I want to encourage them to cooperate more closely. We will support voluntary cooperation among states to build shared infrastructure,…
- How will you make sure government spending is not wasteful? I am determined to cut the cost of governance and eliminate wasteful expenditure. We will improve public financial management and budgeting systems, and reduce deficit financing s…
- How will states work together on development under your plan? I will drive practical collaboration across states - aligning policies, pooling resources, and carrying out joint infrastructure and economic projects at scale, so we can unlock s…
- What will you do to make government spending more accountable? I am determined to make sure every naira spent delivers real impact in your life. That is why I will pass legislation requiring federal, state, and local governments to publish qu…
- How will you cut the cost of running government? I'll lead by example: no living in luxury while citizens struggle. We'll eliminate revenue leakages in governance and procurement, review and begin implementing the Oronsaye Repor…
- How will you make sure government jobs are given out fairly? Public recruitment will be merit-based under my plan. This goes hand in hand with giving anti-corruption agencies full operational independence, and holding federal, state, and lo…
- Why should Nigerians choose an experienced, older leader over a younger candidate, and will you serve only one term? I have the experience leading the country and restoring vitality to our economy and also securing the country. Those are the two important issues that Nigerians are interested in.…
- Were you ever elected Governor of Adamawa State? Yes. I contested and won the Governorship Election of Adamawa State in 1999. But just before I could be sworn in as Governor, I was nominated as the Vice Presidential Candidate of…