President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval rating has slipped further from 32.8% in February to 31.2% in March, amid worsening economic crisis and crippling fuel scarcity, according to a new poll.
The monthly poll by Governance Advancement Initiative for Nigeria, GAIN, says more Nigerians again scored Mr. Buhari low on his administration’s handling of the economy, power and fuel shortage.
It is the second time the president’s rating dropped since GAIN in December started monthly tracking of performance of governments at all levels in Nigeria.
In earlier months, the poll found that majority of respondents did not blame President Buhari for Nigeria’s economic troubles. They blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan instead.
In January, the president’s approval rating stood at 63.4%.
The trend however shifted significantly in February as the nation’s economic crisis bit harder.
In March, which is the latest result, the poll said more Nigerians continued to blame Mr. Buhari not Mr. Jonathan for the nation’s economic woes.
The falling rating was primarily due to petroleum scarcity, bad economy, power outage, and broken campaign promises, said the poll.
“A crippling fuel scarcity continued to affect individuals and business across the country, and had a concomitant effect on transportation and business costs,” said Malcolm Fabiyi, one of the poll’s coordinators, who previously served as a visiting professor at the Lagos Business School.
The president scored low on economy, power, and rule of law.
The poll also found that Nigerians voted the Agriculture Minister, Audu Agbeh, as best performing minister.
Ibeh Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum, who was voted best in February, slipped to third position, as a result of the fuel crisis, and his remarks that he was not a magician to end the scarcity.
The poll also reported lower rating for the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption war, with Nigerians disappointed by slow pace of prosecution and lack of convictions. There were also increased concerns about abuse of rule of law in anti-corruption fight.
The March GAIN survey was administered using electronic media. Eight hundred and seventy six (876) complete responses were received. The survey results have a 95% confidence level and ± 4% margin of error, according to the coordinators.
Poll results
Key highlights
Performance rating for the Buhari government remains low at 31.2%
Top four reasons for Buhari government’s low ratings in March are:
Petroleum scarcity (71%),
Economy (68%),
Power (64%) and
Broken campaign promises (57%)
Majority of Nigerians continue to hold Buhari responsible for the economy
Nigerian Army extends status as the most respected National Institution
Nigerian presidency is 3rd rated National institution, behind Army and EFCC
Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture) rated top performing minister; Fuel Scarcity and “not a magician” statement tanks Kachikwu in ratings
Anti-Corruption war drops below 50% as high priority area for the first time – Nigerians disappointed by slow pace of prosecution & lack of convictions
Concerns linger about abuse of rule of law in anti-corruption fight (38%)85% express dissatisfaction with Government’s handling of Fulani Herdsmen crisis
Summary
March was a very tough month for Nigerians, and a terrible one for the Buhari government. A crippling fuel scarcity continued to affect individuals and business across the country, and had a concomitant effect on transportation and business costs. The power sector continued to struggle, and for a brief period in March, there was zero power generation from the public power system. The Minister of State for Petroleum reminded Nigerians that he was “not a magician,” triggering a firestorm of criticism within the ruling APC government and across Nigeria. As for the anti-corruption war
– March was another month of legal maneuverings in the courts, leaving Nigerians frustrated about the lack of results and convictions. All of these realities are reflected in the March polls.
