Erstwhile Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili has taken a swipe at the current economic policies of President Muhammadu Buhari, describing them as opaque and archaic.

Speaking at The Platform, a yearly public policy forum currently holding in Abuja, Ezekwesili said the Buhari’s current economic policies are similar to those he promulgated during the military regime he led in the 1980s.

According to Ezekwesili, Buhari’s “archaic and opaque,” economic principles are not only encouraging massive corruption and abuse of power, but also hurting the poor they were intended to help.

She said, “During the first coming of this our new president, a command and control economic system was adopted.

“During that era, inflation spiralled. During that era, jobs were lost. During that era, the economic growth level dipped.

“That era wasn’t the best of eras in economic progress.

“What did not work in 1984 cannot possibly be a solution in a global economy that’s much more integrated.

Ezekwesili accused the President for rehashing the same “command and control” approach towards economic issues, this she claimed has left the nations economy in a bad state one year after his assumption of office.

She said, “In over one year, the president is still holding to the premise that command and control is the only way out.

“In a year we have lost the single digits inflation status we maintained in past administrations.
The former Minister further called on the President and his team to consider the effect of their policies on the nation.

“The President should sit with his team and look at the economic evidence that speaks loudly. It’s time to sit back and review the well-intended idea of command and control economic principle.

“He should do what the Americans say that if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it,” she advised.