President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said irrespective
of the challenges Nigerians might have faced, the country
remained a truly blessed one, whose diversity remained its
source of strength.
Jonathan said this in his New Year message to the nation
made available by his Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.
He added that the Federal Government would fight
corruption more in 2014.
He said, “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
digitising government payments.”
He added, “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,” he said.
The President observed that 2014 would be a momentous
one for the country for several reasons, including the fact
that the nation would celebrate its 100 years of existence in
the New Year.
He recalled that the British colonial authorities
amalgamated the separate Protectorates of Southern
Nigeria and Northern Nigeria on January 1, 1914 to give
birth to Nigeria.
“Year 2014, to Nigerians, is not just the beginning of a new
year, but the end of a century of national existence and the
beginning of another,” he said.
This, he said, was a moment for sober reflection and for
pride in all that was great about Nigeria.
While reiterating his position that the nation’s
amalgamation was not a mistake, the President said as
they celebrate the 100 years of its nationhood, Nigerians
must resolve to continue to work together as one united
people.
He assured Nigerians that his administration remained
committed to the development of the country and the
consolidation of peace, unity and democratic governance.
He added that despite several domestic and global
challenges in 2013, Nigeria witnessed many positive
developments which his administration would strive to
build upon in 2014.
The President admitted that the cost of governance in the
country was still too high and must be further reduced.
He also promised to take additional steps to stem the tide
of corruption and leakages.
Jonathan added that foreign travel by government
personnel would be further curtailed and that the directive
would apply to all ministries, departments and agencies of
the Federal Government.
The President also reeled out statistics on the strides he
said his administration achieved in the agriculture, health,
education, water and housing sectors among others and
promised to do more in the New Year.
Source: The Punch
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