President Jonathan Promises Job Creation In New Year Message…Read Full Message

President
Goodluck Jonathan yesterday called on Nigerians to make national
unity, peace, stability and progress of the country a priority in the new
year.
The president also promised Nigerian youths more jobs in 2014, as
well as improved well-being for the citizenry through focused
implementation of the Transformation Agenda.
In a six-page New Year message, the President, who restated that the
amalgamation of the country exactly 100 years ago was not a
mistake but a blessing, however, said that the centenary of the
country’s nationhood was a moment for sober reflection.
Enumerating the achievements of his administration last year, the
president said he would this year “diligently carry forward the
purposeful and focused implementation of our agenda for national
transformation in priority areas such as power, the rehabilitation and
expansion of national infrastructure, agricultural development,
education and employment generation.”
Dear Compatriots,
I greet and felicitate with you all as we enter the year 2014 which
promises to be a momentous one for our country for several reasons,
including the fact that it is also the year of our great nation’s
centenary celebrations. I join you all in giving thanks to God
Almighty for guiding us and our beloved nation safely through all the
challenges of the outgoing year to the beginning of 2014.
Exactly 100 years ago today, on January 1, 1914, the British
Colonial authorities amalgamated what was then the separate
Protectorates of Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria, giving birth
to the single geopolitical entity known as Nigeria. For us therefore,
today is not just the beginning of a new year, but the end of a
century of national existence and the beginning of another. It is a
moment for sober reflection and for pride in all that is great about
Nigeria.
Whatever challenges we may have faced, whatever storms we may
have confronted and survived, Nigeria remains a truly blessed
country, a country of gifted men and women who continue to
distinguish themselves in all spheres of life, a country whose
diversity remains a source of strength. We pay tribute today, as
always to our founding fathers and mothers, and all the heroes and
heroines whose toil and sweat over the century made this country
what it is today.
As I noted, a few days ago, the amalgamation of 1914 was certainly
not a mistake but a blessing. As we celebrate 100 years of
nationhood, we must resolve to continue to work together as one,
united people, to make our country even greater.
I assure you that our administration remains fully committed to the
progressive development of our country and the consolidation of
peace, unity and democratic governance in our fatherland. Despite
several continuing domestic and global challenges, for us in Nigeria,
the year 2013 witnessed many positive developments which we will
strive to build upon in 2014.
We have diligently carried forward the purposeful and focused
implementation of our agenda for national transformation in priority
areas such as power, the rehabilitation and expansion of national
infrastructure, agricultural development, education and employment
generation.
You may recall that our 2013 Budget was on the theme, “Fiscal
Consolidation with Inclusive Growth”, and I emphasized the need for
us to “remain prudent with our fiscal resources and also ensure that
the Nigerian economy keeps growing and creating jobs”. I am
pleased to report that we have stayed focused on this goal.
Our national budget for 2014 which is now before the National
Assembly is specifically targeted at job creation and inclusive
growth. We are keenly aware that in spite of the estimated 1.6
million new jobs created across the country in the past 12 months
as a result of our actions and policies, more jobs are still needed to
support our growing population. Our economic priorities will be
stability and equitable growth, building on the diverse sectors of our
economy.
In 2013, we commenced implementation of the National Industrial
Revolution Plan (NIRP) aimed at industrializing Nigeria and
diversifying our economy into sectors such as agro-processing, light
manufacturing, and petrochemicals. We have also negotiated a
strong Common External Tariff (CET) agreement with our ECOWAS
partners which would enable us to protect our strategic industries
where necessary.
I am pleased to note that as a result of our backward integration
policies, Nigeria has moved from a country that produced 2 million
metric tonnes of cement in 2002, to a country that now has a
capacity of 28.5 million metric tonnes. For the first time in our
history, we have moved from being a net importer of cement to a net
exporter.
Foreign direct investment into Nigeria has also been strong. In fact,
for the second year running, the UN Conference on Trade and
Development has named Nigeria as the number 1 destination for
investments in Africa.
We are witnessing a revolution in the agricultural sector and the
results are evident. We have tackled corruption in the input
distribution system as many farmers now obtain their fertilizers and
seeds directly through an e-wallet system. In 2013, 4.2 million
farmers received subsidized inputs via this programme. This scheme
has restored dignity to our farmers.
Last year we produced over 8 million metric tonnes of additional
food; and this year, inflation fell to its lowest level since 2008 partly
due to higher domestic food production. Our food import bill has also
reduced from N1.1 trillion in 2011, to N648 billion in 2012, placing
Nigeria firmly on the path to food self-sufficiency.
The sector is also supporting more jobs. Last year, we produced 1.1
million metric tonnes of dry season rice across 10 Northern states;
and over 250,000 farmers and youths in these States are now
profitably engaged in farming even during the dry season.
This Administration is also developing our water resources which are
key for both our food production and job creation goals. In 2013, we
completed the construction of nine dams which increased the volume
of our water reservoirs by 422 million cubic metres. Through our
irrigation and drainage programme, we have increased the total
irrigated area by over 31,000 hectares creating jobs for over 75,000
farming families while increasing production of over 400,000 metric
tons of assorted irrigated food products.
Fellow Compatriots, I have always believed that the single greatest
thing we can do to ensure all Nigerians realize their potential and
play a full part in our nation’s future, is to invest in education. The
education of our young people is a key priority for this Government.
We take this responsibility very seriously and I urge all other
stakeholders in the sector to recognize the national importance of
their work, and to help advance the cause of education in our nation.
Between 2007 and 2013, we have almost tripled the allocation for
education from N224 billion to N634 billion – and we will continue to
vigorously support the sector. We have improved access to education
in the country with the construction of 125 Almajiri schools, and the
establishment of three additional Federal Universities in the North,
bringing to twelve, the number of universities established by this
administration.
In 2013, we rehabilitated 352 laboratories and constructed 72 new
libraries in the Federal Unity Schools; and also rehabilitated
laboratories of all the 51 Federal and State polytechnics across the
country.
In the Health sector, we are building strong safety nets and
improving access to primary health care under the Saving One Million
Lives programme. In 2013, we recruited 11,300 frontline health
workers who were deployed to under-served communities across the
country. Over 400,000 lives have been saved through our various
interventions. We have reached over 10,000 women and children
with conditional cash transfer programmes across 8 States and the
FCT and we intend to scale up this successful initiative.
Our national immunization coverage has exceeded 80%. And for the
first time in the history of the country there has not been any
transmission of the Type-3 Wild Polio virus for more than one year.
We have also eradicated the guinea worm that previously affected
the lives of over 800,000 Nigerians yearly. In tertiary health care, we
upgraded medical facilities across the country. Two of our teaching
hospitals – the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, and
the University College Hospital in Ibadan – commenced open heart
surgeries this year after the installation of new facilities.
Fellow Nigerians, I have dwelt on some of our administration’s
achievements in 2013 to reassure you that we are working and
results are being achieved on the ground. As we enter our Centennial
year, there is still much work ahead. We are determined to sustain
our strong macroeconomic fundamentals, to strengthen our domestic
institutions, and to invest in priority sectors. These investments will
create more jobs for our youth. Government will at the same time,
continue to scale-up investments in safety nets and the MDGs to
take care of the poor and the vulnerable so that they too can share
in our growth and prosperity.
In 2014, we will continue to prioritize investments in key sectors
such as infrastructure development, power, roads, rail transportation
and aviation. In the past year, the Federal Government completed
the privatization of four power generation companies and 10 power
distribution companies. We are also in the process of privatizing 10
power plants under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).
We shall boost investments in transmission to ensure power
generated is properly evacuated and distributed. In this regard, we
have already mobilized an additional $1.5 billion for the upgrade of
the transmission network in 2014 and beyond. Government will also
strengthen regulation of the sector, and closely monitor electricity
delivery to increase this beyond 18 hours per day. We will complete
the privatization of the NIPP projects, accelerate work on our gas
pipeline infrastructure and also continue to invest in hydro-electric
power and clean energy as we monitor the effects of climate change
on our economy.
Our administration believes that the cost of governance in the
country is still too high and must be further reduced. We will also
take additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages.
We have worked hard to curb fraud in the administration of the
pension system and the implementation of the petroleum subsidy
scheme. We have introduced a Pensions Transition Arrangement
Department under a new Director-General. This department will now
ensure that those of our pensioners still under the old scheme
receive their pensions and gratuities, and are not subjected to fraud.
Prosecution of all those involved in robbing our retired people will
continue. The Petroleum Subsidy Scheme is also now being operated
under new strict guidelines to tackle previous leakages in the scheme
and prevent fraud.
Foreign travel by government personnel will be further curtailed. This
directive shall apply to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of
the Federal Government. Our strategy to curb leakages will
increasingly rely on introducing the right technologies such as
biometrics and digitizing government payments.
I am therefore pleased to inform you that we shall complete the
deployment of the three electronic platforms in 2014 – namely, the
Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Government Integrated Financial
Management Information System (GIFMIS) and the Integrated
Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) – which are all
geared towards improving efficiency and transparency in our public
finances. Through these reforms, we have already saved about N126
billion in leaked funds and intend to save more.
To sustain Nigeria’s ongoing agricultural transformation, we have
planned further investments in the sector. We will provide input
subsidies to five million farmers nationwide using the e-wallet
system. This Administration recently launched a self-employment
initiative under the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme
(YEAP), called the Nagropreneur programme. This scheme would
encourage our youth to go into commercial agriculture as
entrepreneurs and we plan to develop over 750,000 young
Nagropreneurs by 2015.
We will also establish new agro-industrial clusters to complement
the staple crop processing zones being developed across the
country. In 2014, this Administration will continue to work with the
private sector to improve financing in the agricultural sector. For
example, we will launch the Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria
(FAFIN) which will serve as a private equity fund to invest in agri-
businesses across the country.
Our Small and Medium scale enterprises (SMEs) will be the bedrock
of Nigeria’s industrialization. We have about 17 million registered
SMEs, and they employ over 32 million Nigerians. When our SMEs
grow, more jobs will be created for our youth. Therefore, in 2014,
this Administration will focus strongly on implementing the Nigeria
Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) to address the needs of
small businesses. Our interventions will include helping SMEs with
access to affordable finance, business development services, and
youth training. In addition, our new CET policies will enable us to
support our emerging industries.
We will also intensify our investment promotion efforts abroad, to
ensure we bring the biggest and best companies from around the
world to invest in Nigeria.
Dear Compatriots, the housing and construction industry is a critical
sector in most developed economies. When the housing sector
booms, it creates additional jobs for architects and masons, for
electricians and plumbers, forpainters and interior decorators, and
for those in the cement and furniture industries.
Today, I am pleased to inform you that this Administration is
reinvigorating our housing and construction sector. We have
established the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) which
will increase liquidity in the housing sector, provide a secondary
market for mortgages, and thereby increase the number of people
able to purchase or build homes at an affordable price in the
country.
In 2014, we will work in a number of pilot states where the State
Governors have agreed to provide fast-track land titles, foreclosure
arrangements, and serviced plots. This new institution will enable us
to create over 200,000 mortgages over the next five years at
affordable interest rates. In addition, those at the lower end of the
economic ladder will not be left behind as this new initiative will
expand mass housing schemes through a re-structured Federal
Mortgage Bank and other institutions to provide rent-to-own and
lease-to-own options. I am confident that very soon, many more
hardworking Nigerian families will be able to realize their dream of
owning a home.
In this our centenary year, we will continue our efforts, through the
Saving One Million Lives initiative to strengthen primary health care
services. We will scale up interventions in reproductive, maternal,
newborn and child health, nutrition, routine immunization, HIV/AIDS,
malaria elimination, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and
non-communicable diseases. We will pay greater attention to the
provision of universal health coverage. Besides the implementation of
new initiatives such as my comprehensive response plan for HIV/
AIDS, we shall continue to collaborate with global health partners to
deliver our health sector transformation agenda.
I am glad that the issues responsible for the long-drawn ASUU strike
have been resolved and our children are returning to their campuses.
We are committed to making our tertiary institutions true centers of
learning for our young people. We will therefore focus on upgrading
hostels, laboratories, classrooms, and halls. As the 2015 deadline
for the Millennium Development Goals approaches, we will continue
to expand access to basic education for all Nigerian children.
Working with State Governments, we shall decisively tackle the
problem of the large numbers of out-of-school children in this
country. We will also invest in technical and vocational education to
promote skills development for our youth across the country.
Nigerian entrepreneurs still lack access to affordable financing, with
medium-to-long-term tenors. To address this gap, a new wholesale
development finance institution will be established in 2014 to provide
medium-to long-term financing for Nigerian businesses. We are
working with partners such as the World Bank, the Africa
Development Bank, the BNDES Bank in Brazil, and KfW in Germany,
to realize this project. Our existing Bank of Agriculture and Bank of
Industry will be re-structured as specialized institutions to retail
financing from this new wholesale development bank.
In addition to the foregoing, our administration will also do all within
its powers to ensure the success of the forthcoming National
Conference. The report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on
the Conference is undergoing urgent review and the approved
structure, guidelines and modalities for the conference will soon be
published as a prelude to its commencement and expeditious
conclusion.
It remains our sincere hope and expectation that the success of the
national conference will further enhance national unity, peace and
cohesion as we move ahead to the 2015 general elections.
In keeping with our avowed commitment to progressively enhancing
the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process by consistently upholding
the principle of one man, one vote, our Administration will also
ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
receives all required support to ensure that it is adequately prepared
for the next general elections.
As peace and security remain prerequisite conditions for the full
realization of our objectives, we will also do more in 2014 to further
empower our security agencies who are working in collaborative
partnerships with our friends in the international community to stem
the scourge of terrorism in our country and enhance the security of
lives and property in all parts of Nigeria. The allocation of over N600
Billion to Defence and Policing in the 2014 Budget attests to this
commitment.
Fellow compatriots, the task of making our dear nation a much
better place for present and future generations cannot be left to
government alone. I therefore urge you all to be ready and willing to
do more this year to support the implementation of the Federal
Government’s Agenda for National Transformation in every possible
way.
Let us all therefore resolve as we celebrate the new year, and
Nigeria’s Centenary, to place the higher interests of national unity,
peace, stability and progress above all other considerations and work
harder in our particular fields of human endeavour to contribute more
significantly to the attainment of our collective aspirations. I urge all
Nigerians, no matter their stations in life, to rededicate themselves
to contributing meaningfully to further enrich our national heritage.
The time for that re-dedication is now, not tomorrow.
I wish you all a happy and rewarding 2014. God bless Nigeria.
Happy New Year.