President – Elect Buhari Unfolds 10-Point Agenda, Says I Will…
President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, (rtd), yesterday outlined 10 development challenges as the mission of his presidency due to begin on May 29.
Speaking in Abuja in an address he delivered at the induction held for the incoming members of the National Assembly organised by the National Institute or Legislative Studies, General Buhari listed the challenges as:
. General insecurity and insurgency that has caused extreme human hardship and destruction of lives, livelihoods that may take us over a decade to rebuild across most of North Eastern Nigeria and some parts of North Western Nigeria;
. Devastation and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta area which must be attended to;
. Decline in revenues due to fall in oil prices which poses a threat to government’s capacity to deliver on reconstruction of devastated areas and the new government development agenda;
. Endemic corruption which has crippled human and infrastructure development for decades;
. Unacceptably poor provision of power supply which has had a crippling effect on development of small businesses and indeed the wider economy;
. Deindustrialisation for the past three decades leading to closure of many industries and migration of many to other African countries;
. Unacceptably high levels of unemployment and especially youth unemployment reaching over 40%;
.High cost of governance that has been crowding out capital and human development;
. Erosion of public social services such as infrastructure, health and education; and
.Lack of development in the agricultural and solid mineral sectors.
Underscoring the need for collaboration between his presidency and the National Assembly, he said: “The legislature is a critical component and necessary ingredient of democracy and good governance. The legislature by nature is inherently democratic in the sense that all members are equal and are elected representatives of the Nigerian people. As President-elect, I recognize this fact and believe that legislators carry this heavy burden of representation with all the seriousness it deserves.
“For a president to be successful in addressing community development and general welfare of the various people of the country, he or she would benefit from working closely and in harmony with the legislative arm of government. I, therefore, commit myself to working with the legislature as development partners motivated by the desire to deliver good governance.”
General Buhari, while congratulating the lawmakers on their election, asked them to be mindful that they and the other elected officials are on the threshold of history.
He recalled that “for the first time in our post independence history, power is going to be transferred from an incumbent ruling party to an opposition party. This is in spite of predictions of calamitous outcomes. Nigerians have, indeed, proven once again that they are a united people and stand resolute to protect its growing democracy.”
The President-elect commended the political class, including outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan for their spirit of sportsmanship during and after the election, adding that the victory was not only for those that won at the polls.
According to him, “I dare say, it is equally a victory for all political parties and their leaderships for according due respect to the electoral process and accepting the results in most cases. I wish to specifically acknowledge the role played by the President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for accepting results of the election before the final announcement was made.”
Buhari also commended “the professionalism of our security agencies, the competence and resilience of INEC,” and “above all, the doggedness of Nigerians and their commitment to ensuring that their wishes are represented and respected.”
Earlier, the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Sen. David Mark, commended the President-elect for making history as the ‘’first to address a semi-joint session of the National Assembly where both presiding officers are present.’
“Today is a historic day in Nigerian democracy as it is the first time a President-elect is addressing almost a joint session of the National Assembly; the difference is that there’s no Mace and the venue is also different,” Mark noted.
He assured the President-elect of the cooperation of the incoming assembly in delivering good governance. Tambuwal, in his votes of thanks, commended the President-elect for making out time to address incoming lawmakers, assuring him of their unconditional support as he prepares to steer the affairs the state.
“I must commend you for choosing to come yourself to meet with members-elect to address them as your partners in progress by the grace of God.
“If I said this on behalf of the incoming 8th Assembly, I don’t think it will be out of place that I’m sure they will extend their unconditional hands of friendship as you resume your duties of piloting the nation’s affairs,” Tambuwal assured.
President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, (rtd), yesterday outlined 10 development challenges as the mission of his presidency due to begin on May 29.
Speaking in Abuja in an address he delivered at the induction held for the incoming members of the National Assembly organised by the National Institute or Legislative Studies, General Buhari listed the challenges as:
. General insecurity and insurgency that has caused extreme human hardship and destruction of lives, livelihoods that may take us over a decade to rebuild across most of North Eastern Nigeria and some parts of North Western Nigeria;
. Devastation and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta area which must be attended to;
. Decline in revenues due to fall in oil prices which poses a threat to government’s capacity to deliver on reconstruction of devastated areas and the new government development agenda;
. Endemic corruption which has crippled human and infrastructure development for decades;
. Unacceptably poor provision of power supply which has had a crippling effect on development of small businesses and indeed the wider economy;
. Deindustrialisation for the past three decades leading to closure of many industries and migration of many to other African countries;
. Unacceptably high levels of unemployment and especially youth unemployment reaching over 40%;
.High cost of governance that has been crowding out capital and human development;
. Erosion of public social services such as infrastructure, health and education; and
.Lack of development in the agricultural and solid mineral sectors.
Underscoring the need for collaboration between his presidency and the National Assembly, he said: “The legislature is a critical component and necessary ingredient of democracy and good governance. The legislature by nature is inherently democratic in the sense that all members are equal and are elected representatives of the Nigerian people. As President-elect, I recognize this fact and believe that legislators carry this heavy burden of representation with all the seriousness it deserves.
“For a president to be successful in addressing community development and general welfare of the various people of the country, he or she would benefit from working closely and in harmony with the legislative arm of government. I, therefore, commit myself to working with the legislature as development partners motivated by the desire to deliver good governance.”
General Buhari, while congratulating the lawmakers on their election, asked them to be mindful that they and the other elected officials are on the threshold of history.
He recalled that “for the first time in our post independence history, power is going to be transferred from an incumbent ruling party to an opposition party. This is in spite of predictions of calamitous outcomes. Nigerians have, indeed, proven once again that they are a united people and stand resolute to protect its growing democracy.”
The President-elect commended the political class, including outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan for their spirit of sportsmanship during and after the election, adding that the victory was not only for those that won at the polls.
According to him, “I dare say, it is equally a victory for all political parties and their leaderships for according due respect to the electoral process and accepting the results in most cases. I wish to specifically acknowledge the role played by the President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for accepting results of the election before the final announcement was made.”
Buhari also commended “the professionalism of our security agencies, the competence and resilience of INEC,” and “above all, the doggedness of Nigerians and their commitment to ensuring that their wishes are represented and respected.”
Earlier, the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Sen. David Mark, commended the President-elect for making history as the ‘’first to address a semi-joint session of the National Assembly where both presiding officers are present.’
“Today is a historic day in Nigerian democracy as it is the first time a President-elect is addressing almost a joint session of the National Assembly; the difference is that there’s no Mace and the venue is also different,” Mark noted.
He assured the President-elect of the cooperation of the incoming assembly in delivering good governance. Tambuwal, in his votes of thanks, commended the President-elect for making out time to address incoming lawmakers, assuring him of their unconditional support as he prepares to steer the affairs the state.
“I must commend you for choosing to come yourself to meet with members-elect to address them as your partners in progress by the grace of God.
“If I said this on behalf of the incoming 8th Assembly, I don’t think it will be out of place that I’m sure they will extend their unconditional hands of friendship as you resume your duties of piloting the nation’s affairs,” Tambuwal assured.
