TEXT OF NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON MAY 29, 2016<\/p>\n
My compatriots,<\/p>\n
It is one year today since our administration came into office. It has
\nbeen a year of triumph, consolidation, pains and achievements. By age,
\ninstinct and experience, my preference is to look forward, to prepare for
\nthe challenges that lie ahead and rededicate the administration to the
\ntask of fixing Nigeria. But I believe we can also learn from the obstacles
\nwe have overcome and the progress we made thus far, to help strengthen the
\nplans that we have in place to put Nigeria back on the path of progress.<\/p>\n
We affirm our belief in democracy as the form of government that best
\nassures the active participation and actual benefit of the people. Despite
\nthe many years of hardship and disappointment the people of this nation
\nhave proved inherently good, industrious tolerant, patient and generous.<\/p>\n
The past years have witnessed huge flows of oil revenues. From 2010
\naverage oil prices were $100 per barrel. But economic and security
\nconditions were deteriorating. We campaigned and won the election on the
\nplatform of restoring security, tackling corruption and restructuring the
\neconomy. On our arrival, the oil price had collapsed to as low as $30 per
\nbarrel and we found nothing had been kept for the rainy day. Oil prices
\nhave been declining since 2014 but due to the neglect of the past, the
\ncountry was not equipped to halt the economy from declining.<\/p>\n
The infrastructure, notably rail, power, roads were in a decrepit state.
\nAll the four refineries were in a state of disrepair, the pipelines and
\ndepots neglected.<\/p>\n
Huge debts owed to contractors and suppliers had accumulated. Twenty-seven
\nstates could not pay salaries for months. In the north-east, Boko Haram
\nhad captured 14 local governments, driven the local authorities out,
\nhoisted their flags. Elsewhere, insecurity was palpable; corruption and
\nimpunity were the order of the day. In short, we inherited a state near
\ncollapse.<\/p>\n
On the economic front, all oil dependent countries, Nigeria included, have
\nbeen struggling since the drop in prices. Many oil rich states have had to
\ntake tough decisions similar to what we are doing. The world, Nigeria
\nincluded has been dealing with the effects of three significant and
\nsimultaneous global shocks starting in 2014:<\/p>\n
1.A 70% drop in oil prices.
\n2.Global growth slowdown.
\n3.Normalization of monetary policy by the United States federal reserve.
\nOur problems as a government are like that of a farmer who in a good
\nseason harvests ten bags of produce. The proceeds enable him to get by for
\nrest of the year. However, this year he could only manage 3 bags from his
\nfarm. He must now think of other ways to make ends meet.<\/p>\n
From day one, we purposely set out to correct our condition, to change
\nNigeria. We reinforced and galvanized our armed forces with new leadership
\nand resources. We marshaled our neighbours in a joint task force to tackle
\nand defeat Boko Haram. By the end of December 2015, all but pockets and
\nremnants had been routed by our gallant armed forces. Our immediate focus
\nis for a gradual and safe return of internally displaced persons in safety
\nand dignity and for the resumption of normalcy in the lives of people
\nliving in these areas.<\/p>\n
EFCC was given the freedom to pursue corrupt officials and the judiciary
\nwas alerted on what Nigerians expect of them in the fight against
\ncorruption. On the economy, in particular foreign exchange and fuel
\nshortages, our plan is to save foreign exchange by fast tracking repair of
\nthe refineries and producing most of our fuel requirements at home. And by
\ngrowing more food in Nigeria, mainly rice, wheat and sugar we will save
\nbillions of dollars in foreign exchange and drastically reduce our food
\nimport bill.<\/p>\n
We resolved to keep the Naira steady, as in the past, devaluation had done
\ndreadful harm to the Nigerian economy. Furthermore, I supported the
\nmonetary authority\u2019s decision to ensure alignment between monetary policy
\nand fiscal policy. We shall keep a close look on how the recent measures
\naffect the Naira and the economy. But we cannot get away from the fact
\nthat a strong currency is predicated on a strong economy. And a strong
\neconomy pre-supposes an industrial productive base and a steady export
\nmarket. The measures we must take, may lead to hardships. The problems
\nNigerians have faced over the last year have been many and varied. But the
\nreal challenge for this government has been reconstructing the spine of
\nthe Nigerian state. The last twelve months have been spent collaborating
\nwith all arms of government to revive our institutions so that they are
\nmore efficient and fit for purpose:<\/p>\n
\u2022That means a bureaucracy better able to develop and deliver policy
\n\u2022That means an independent judiciary, above suspicion and able to defend
\ncitizen\u2019s rights and dispense justice equitably.
\n\u2022That means a legislature that actually legislates effectively and
\n\u2022Above all; that means political parties and politicians committed to
\nserving the nigerian people rather than themselves.
\nThese are the pillars of the state on which democracy can take root and
\nthrive. But only if they are strong and incorruptible. Accordingly, we are
\nworking very hard to introduce some vital structural reforms in the way we
\nconduct government business and lay a solid foundation on which we can
\nbuild enduring change.<\/p>\n
An important first step has been to get our housekeeping right. So we have
\nreduced the extravagant spending of the past. We started boldly with the
\ntreasury single account, stopping the leakages in public expenditure.<\/p>\n
We then identified forty-three thousand ghost workers through the
\nIntegrated Payroll and Personnel Information system. That represents pay
\npackets totalling N4.2 billion stolen every month.\u00a0 In addition, we will
\nsave Twenty-Three Billion\u00a0 Naira per annum from official travelling and
\nsitting allowances alone.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the efficiency unit will cut costs and eliminate duplications
\nin ministries and departments. Every little saving helps. The reduction in
\nthe number of ministries and work on restructuring and rationalization of
\nthe MDAs is well underway. When this work is complete we will have a
\nleaner, more efficient public service that is fit for the purpose of
\nchanging nigeria for the good and for good.<\/p>\n
As well as making savings, we have changed the way public money is spent.
\nIn all my years as a public servant, I have never come across the practice
\nof padding budgets. I am glad to tell you now we not only have a budget,
\nbut more importantly, we have a budget process that is more transparent,
\nmore inclusive and more closely tied to our development priorities than in
\nthe recent past. 30% of the expenditure in this budget is devoted to
\ncapital items. Furthermore, we are projecting non-oil revenues to surpass
\nproceeds from oil. Some critics have described the budget exercise as
\nclumsy. Perhaps. But it was an example of consensus building, which is
\nintegral to democratic government. In the end we resolved our differences.<\/p>\n
We have, therefore, delivered significant milestones on security,
\ncorruption and the economy. In respect of the economy, I would like to
\ndirectly address you on the very painful but inevitable decisions we had
\nto make in the last few weeks specifically on the pump price of fuel and
\nthe more flexible exchange rate policy announced by the central bank. It
\nis even more painful for me that a major producer of crude oil with four
\nrefineries that once exported refined products is today having to import
\nall of its domestic needs. This is what corruption and mismanagement has
\ndone to us and that is why we must fight these ills.<\/p>\n
As part of the foundation of the new economy we have had to reform how
\nfuel prices had traditionally been fixed. This step was taken only after
\nprotracted consideration of its pros and cons. After comprehensive
\ninvestigation my advisers and I concluded that the mechanism was
\nunsustainable.<\/p>\n
We are also engaged in making recoveries of stolen assets some of which
\nare in different jurisdictions. The processes of recovery can be tedious
\nand time consuming, but today I can confirm that thus far: significant
\namount of assets have been recovered. A considerable portion of these are
\nat different stages of recovery. Full details of the status and categories
\nof the assets will now be published by the Ministry of Information and
\nupdated periodically. When forfeiture formalities are completed these
\nmonies will be credited to the treasury and be openly and transparently
\nused in funding developmental projects and the public will be informed.<\/p>\n
On the Niger Delta, we are committed to implementing the United Nations
\nEnvironment Programme report and are advancing clean-up operations. I
\nbelieve the way forward is to take a sustainable approach to address the
\nissues that affect the delta communities. Re-engineering the amnesty
\nprogrammes is an example of this. The recent spate of attacks by militants
\ndisrupting oil and power installations will not distract us from engaging
\nleaders in the region in addressing Niger Delta problems. If the militants
\nand vandals are testing our resolve, they are much mistaken. We shall
\napprehend the perpetrators and their sponsors and bring them to justice.<\/p>\n
The policy measures and actions taken so far are not to be seen as some
\nexperiment in governance. We are fully aware that those vested interests
\nwho have held Nigeria back for so long will not give up without a fight.
\nThey will sow divisions, sponsor vile press criticisms at home and abroad,
\nincite the public in an effort to create chaos rather than relinquish the
\nvice-like grip they have held on Nigeria.<\/p>\n
The economic misfortune we are experiencing in the shape of very low oil
\nprices has provided us with an opportunity to restructure our economy and
\ndiversify. We are in the process of promoting agriculture, livestocks,
\nexploiting our solid mineral resources and expanding our industrial and
\nmanufacturing base. That way, we will import less and make the social
\ninvestments necessary to allow us to produce a large and skilled
\nworkforce.<\/p>\n
Central Bank of Nigeria will offer more fiscal incentives for business
\nthat prove capable of manufacturing products that are internationally
\ncompetitive. We remain committed to reforming the regulatory framework,
\nfor investors by improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the first steps along the path of self-sufficiency in rice,
\nwheat and sugar \u2013 big users of our scarce foreign exchange \u2013 have been
\ntaken. The Labour Intensive Farming Enterprise\u00a0 will boost the economy and
\nensure inclusive growth in long neglected communities. Special
\nintervention funds through the Bank of Agriculture will provide targeted
\nsupport. Concerns remain about rising cost of foods such as maize, rice,
\nmillet, beans and gari. Farmers tell me that they are worried about the
\ncost of fertilizers, pesticides and the absence of extension services. The
\nfederal and state governments are on the same page in tackling these
\nhurdles in our efforts at increased food production and ultimately food
\nsecurity.<\/p>\n
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the
\nincreasing role that our women are playing in revitalizing the
\nagricultural sector. Modern farming is still hard and heavy work and I
\nsalute our Nigerian women in sharing this burden. In this respect I am
\nvery pleased to announce that the government will shortly be launching the
\nnational women\u2019s empowerment fund, which I have approved to provide N1.6
\nbillion in micro-finance loans to women across the nation to assist in
\nrehabilitating the economies of rural communities, particularly those
\nimpacted by the insurgency and conflict.<\/p>\n
With respect to solid minerals, the minister has produced a roadmap where
\nwe will work closely with the world bank and major international investors
\nto ensure through best practices and due diligence that we choose the
\nright partners. Illegal mining remains a problem and we have set up a
\nspecial security team to protect our assets. Special measures will be in
\nplace to protect miners in their work environment.<\/p>\n
For too long, ours has been a society that neglects the poor and
\nvictimizes the weak. A society that promotes profit and growth over
\ndevelopment and freedom. A society that fails to recognize that, to quote
\nthe distinguished economist Amartya Sen \u201c poverty is not just lack of
\nmoney. It is not having the capability to realize one\u2019s full potential as
\na human being.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, today, I am happy to formally\u00a0 launch, by far the most ambitious
\nsocial protection programme in our history. A programme that both seeks to
\nstart the process of lifting many from poverty, while at the same time
\ncreating the opportunity for people to fend for themselves. In this
\nregard, Five Hundred Billion Naira has been appropriated in the 2016
\nbudget for social intervention programmes in five key areas. We are
\ncommitted to providing job creation opportunities for five hundred
\nthousand teachers and one hundred thousand artisans across the nation. 5.5
\nmillion children are to be provided with nutritious meals through our
\nschool feeding programme to improve learning outcomes, as well as
\nenrolment and completion rates. The conditional cash transfer scheme will
\nprovide financial support for up to one million vulnerable beneficiaries,
\nand complement the enterprise programme \u2013 which will target up to one
\nmillion market women; four hundred and sixty thousand artisans; and two
\nhundred thousand agricultural workers, nationwide. Finally, through the
\neducation grant scheme, we will encourage students studying sciences,
\ntechnology, engineering and maths, and lay a foundation for human capital
\ndevelopment for the next generation<\/p>\n
I would like to pay a special tribute to our gallant men and women of the
\narmed forces who are in harm\u2019s way so that the rest of us can live and go
\nabout our business in safety. Their work is almost done. The nation owes
\nthem a debt of gratitude.<\/p>\n
Abroad, we want to assure our neighbours, friends and development partners
\nthat Nigeria is firmly committed to democratic principles. We are ready
\npartners in combating terrorism, cyber crimes, control of communicable
\ndiseases and protection of the environment. Following on the Paris
\nAgreement, COP 21, we are fully committed to halting and reversing
\ndesertification. Elsewhere, we will intensify efforts to tackle erosion,
\nocean surge, flooding and oil spillage which I referred to earlier by
\nimplementing the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.<\/p>\n
We are grateful to the international community notably France, the US, UK
\nand China for their quick response in helping to tackle the recent Ebola
\noutbreak in our sub-region. We also acknowledge the humanity shown by the
\nItalian and German governments in the treatment of boat people, many
\nfleeing from our sub-region because of lack of economic opportunity. We
\nthank all our partners especially several countries in the EU.<\/p>\n
We appreciate the valuable work that the UN agencies, particularly UNICEF,
\nICRC, the World Food Program have been doing. We must also appreciate the
\nWorld Bank, the Gates Foundation, the Global Fund and Educate A Child of
\nQatar for the excellent work in our health, education and other sectors.<\/p>\n
Fellow citizens let me end on a happy note. To the delight of all, two of
\nthe abducted Chibok girls have regained their freedom. During the last one
\nyear, not a single day passed without my agonizing about these girls. Our
\nefforts have centred around negotiations to free them safely from their
\nmindless captors. We are still pursuing that course. Their safety is of
\nparamount concern to me and I am sure to most Nigerians. I am very worried
\nabout the conditions those still captured might be in. Today I re-affirm
\nour commitment to rescuing our girls. We will never stop until we bring
\nthem home safely. As I said before, no girl should be put through the
\nbrutality of forced marriage and every Nigerian girl has the right to an
\neducation and a life choice.<\/p>\n
I thank you and appeal to you to continue supporting the government\u2019s
\nefforts to fix Nigeria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TEXT OF NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON MAY 29, 2016 My compatriots, It is one year today since our administration came into office. It has been a year…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n