The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deceiving Nigerians with unrealistic campaign promises.
At a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Olisa Metuh, alleged that the APC, if elected, was planning to impose a new tax regime which would raise company tax from 30 per cent to 45 per cent and personal income tax to 32 per cent.
Mr Metuh asked the APC to explain to Nigerians how they would fulfil their promises with the prevailing 40 per cent drop in national income and dwindling oil price in the international market.
“The APC, in one of these phantom promises, said that it will pay a stipend each to 25 million Nigerians monthly until they are employed.
“This gives a total of 125 billion Naira each month and 1.5 trillion Naira every year.
“What is baffling is that the APC knows fully well that this is not only unrealistic but also impracticable in a nation with an estimated budget of a little over four trillion Naira, comprising recurrent and capital expenditures, yet they continue to dish out to unsuspecting citizens in a clear bid to mislead,” Mr Metuh said.
He further alleged that “the deceitful tendency of the APC came to light in its promise to create 740,000 direct jobs in each of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT within one year while on the other hand promising to create one million jobs for igbo youths”.
According to him, the APC had also promised to provide free education, daily free meals for millions of Nigerian school children, free tertiary education, free healthcare and houses to Nigerians.
“The opposition know too well that this is unrealistic, yet they prefer to brandish falsehood,” the PDP spokesman said.
In his campaign speeches, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari, has continued to promise Nigerians ‘change’, reiterating his commitment to tackling corruption and insecurity.
