Despite failing economy, militancy in the Niger Delta and a growing
disenchantment of his leadership style, President Mohammadu Buhari has
assured Nigerians of his commitment to fulfilling all his campaign
promises.
Buhari, in a Message to mark the 2016 Children’s Day celebration, said,
beside his free meal program already captured in the 2016 Budget, he is
committed to quality health and education for the Nigerian children.
The President’s message reads:
I heartily greet and felicitate with all Nigerian children on the occasion
of this year’s Children’s Day celebration.
I seize the opportunity of this year’s celebration which comes just two
days before the first anniversary of the present Administration, to
reassure our children and youth that we remain fully committed to
fulfilling our promise of a better Nigeria for all of our people.
On this happy occasion for our children, I reaffirm my belief that it is
the right of every Nigerian child to have access to quality and affordable
education, as well as healthcare and other basic necessities for a good
life, in a peaceful and secure environment.
The good health and well-being of Nigerian children remain a top priority
on
our agenda for national development and we have demonstrated our strong
commitment in this regard with the allocation of N12.6 billion in the 2016
budget for vaccines and programmes to prevent childhood killer diseases
such as polio, measles and yellow fever.
Other measures in the 2016 budget, such as the school feeding programme
for children at a cost of N93.1 billion, will ensure that more children go
to school and enjoy the fun of learning and growing together with their
peers.
Despite the current economic and funding challenges facing our dear nation,
my administration will continue to do all within its powers to achieve
better living conditions and greater access to quality healthcare and
education for all our youth.
It is a thing of joy that on this year’s Children’s Day, we can also
celebrate the safe return of one of the Chibok girls, Amina Ali Nkeki and
many other abducted women and children who have been freed from the
clutches of Boko Haram by our gallant troops.
I assure all Nigerians and friends of the country, once again, that my
administration will not rest on its oars until the ungodly terrorist sect
is totally eliminated from our country.
As peace gradually returns to the insurgency-ravaged North-Eastern States,
the
Federal Government will continue to work diligently to ensure the rapid
and full reintegration and rehabilitation of all internally displaced
persons, including orphaned children in the region.
We will also sustain and strengthen ongoing actions to protect children
more effectively from violence, child-labour, child-trafficking, forced
marriages and other related offences.
In return, I urge you all to imbibe and exhibit in greater measure, the
virtues of hard work, diligence, discipline, honesty, prudence,
selflessness and patriotism which are essential for the actualisation of
our vision of a truly great nation.
The world now looks up to our dear nation, Nigeria as an exemplary model of
democratic ideals after the smooth transition that brought our
Administration to power.
You, our children and youth have a very significant role to play in
ensuring that our democratic institutions of governance are continuously
nurtured, improved and strengthened to underpin national development and
prosperity.
Remain assured that under my leadership, the Federal Government will
continue to do its best to prepare and equip you to show the world that
with its brilliant, resourceful and resilient people, Nigeria is a
country of incredible potential and opportunity.
I wish you all a Happy Children’s Day celebration.
Muhammadu Buhari
President
Federal Republic of Nigeria
*May 27, 2016*