Mixed Reactions Over Appointment Of Dr.Doyin Salami As Buhari's Chief Economic Adviser

There are have been mixed reactions among Nigerians over the last Tuesday's appointment of Dr.Doyin Salami as Chief Economic Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari

Edu-Biznews in opinions poll monitored on both radio and television on Wednesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and Lagos, the commercial city of the country, showed sharp division among Nigerians over the appointment

Some of them including highly respected Dr. Reuben Abati , a Columnist and Spokesman of former president, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan, described the appointment as mercy after death, saying the appointment should have come before now

They said no one would listen to the advice by Salami, because the period for serious politicking by politicians is fast approaching and attention would be focus on the 2023 general election

According to them, there is no magic wands in the hands of Salami to accelerate and revamp the nation economy currently battling with high inflation rate , considering the free fall of naira to dollar in the foreign exchange market, in addition to increasing cost of living among Nigerians who hardly afford three square meals daily 

But for others, the appointment is never too late, saying alot can still be done within the next 17 month of the Buhari's administration, with the right advice  and political will to muster the confidence to implement such advice and policies capable of transforming the economy within the period left for the present administration

 Buhari had appointed Dr. Doyin Salami as his  Chief   Economic Adviser for the first time since coming to power in 2015.

 Salami, who until his appointment as the chief economic adviser to the president (CEAP), was the chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC).

It is not however clear in the statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) on Tuesday, whether the new appointee  is to combine both positions.

His appointment makes it the first time Buhari would be having a chief economic adviser, having only utilized advisory teams and a special adviser on the economy, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, who was deployed to the office of the Vice President in 2016.

The 59 year-old Salami is a1989 doctorate degree graduate in Economics of Queen Mary College, University of London, Managing Director and Head Markets Practice at KAINOS Edge Consulting Limited, and member of the Adjunct Faculty at the Lagos Business School (LBS), Pan-Atlantic University, where he recently attained the rank of Senior Fellow/Associate Professor.

The statement said the chief economic adviser to the president is expected to address all issues on the domestic economy and present views on them to the president; closely monitor national and international developments, trends and develop appropriate policy responses; develop and recommend to the President national economic policies to foster macro-economic stability, promote growth, create jobs, and eradicate poverty, among others.