In an effort to salvage the forth
coming national strike, the
president announced the
reduction of salaries of all
government officials and
political office holders by just
25% and cutting down all
foreign trip expenses by 25%.
i wonder how this will help
reduce the rocketing price of
items?
Full text of the president's
broadcast
Quote
1. A week ago, I had cause to
address Nigerians on the
security challenges we are
facing in parts of the country,
which necessitated the
declaration of a state of
emergency in 15 Local
Government Areas in four
states of the Federation. That
course of action attracted
widespread support and a
demonstration of
understanding. With that
declaration, government had
again signaled its intention to
combat terrorism with
renewed vigour and to assure
every Nigerian of safety.
2. The support that we have
received in the fight against...
terrorism from concerned
Nigerians at home and abroad
has been remarkable. We
believe that it is with such
continued support that
progress can be made on
national issues. Let me express
my heartfelt appreciation to
everyone who has expressed a
commitment to support us as
we strive to improve on the
country’s security situation,
and build a stronger
foundation for the future. The
recent mindless acts of
violence in Gombe, Potiskum,
Jimeta-Yola and Mubi are
unfortunate. I urge all
Nigerians to eschew bitterness
and acrimony and live
together in harmony and
peace. Wherever there is any
threat to public peace, our
security agencies will enforce
the law, without fear or
favour.
3. This evening, I address you,
again, with much concern over
an issue that borders on the
national economy, the oil
industry and national progress.
As part of our efforts to
transform the economy and
guarantee prosperity for all
Nigerians, Government, a few
days ago, announced further
deregulation of the
downstream petroleum sector.
The immediate effect of this
has been the removal of the
subsidy on petrol.
4. Since the announcement,
there have been mixed
reactions to the policy. Let me
seize this opportunity to
assure all Nigerians that I feel
the pain that you all feel. I
personally feel pained to see
the sharp increase in transport
fares and the prices of goods
and services. I share the
anguish of all persons who had
travelled out of their stations,
who had to pay more on the
return leg of their journeys.
5. If I were not here to lead
the process of national
renewal, if I were in your
shoes at this moment, I
probably would have reacted
in the same manner as some
of our compatriots, or hold the
same critical views about
government. But I need to use
this opportunity as your
President to address Nigerians
on the realities on the ground,
and why we chose to act as
we did. I know that these are
not easy times. But tough
choices have to be made to
safeguard the economy and
our collective survival as a
nation.
6. My fellow Nigerians, the
truth is that we are all faced
with two basic choices with
regard to the management of
the downstream petroleum
sector: either we deregulate
and survive economically, or
we continue with a subsidy
regime that will continue to
undermine our economy and
potential for growth, and face
serious consequences.
7. As you all know, the subject
of deregulation is not new, we
have been grappling with it for
more than two decades.
Previous administrations
tinkered with the pump price
of petroleum products, and
were unable to effect
complete deregulation of the
downstream sector. This
approach has not worked. If it
did, we would not be here
talking about deregulation
today. I understand fully well
that deregulation is not a
magic formula that will
address every economic
challenge, but it provides a
good entry point for
transforming the economy,
and for ensuring transparency
and competitiveness in the oil
industry, which is the mainstay
of our economy.
8. As a President, elected and
supported by ordinary
Nigerians, and the vast
majority of our people, I have
a duty to bring up policies and
programmes that will grow
the economy and bring about
greater benefits for the
people. Let me assure you that
as your President, I have no
intention to inflict pain on
Nigerians.
9. The deregulation of the
petroleum sector is a
necessary step that we had to
take. Should we continue to do
things the same way, and face
more serious economic
challenges? Or deregulate,
endure the initial discomfort
and reap better benefits later?
I want to assure every
Nigerian that whatever pain
you may feel at the moment,
will be temporary.
10. The interest of the ordinary
people of this country will
always remain topmost in my
priorities as a leader. I remain
passionately committed to
achieving significant and
enduring improvements in our
economy that will lead to
sustained improvement in the
lives of our people.
11. I am determined to leave
behind a better Nigeria, which
we all can be proud of. To do
so, I must make sure that we
have the resources and the
means to grow our economy.ilient, and to sustain
improved livelihood for our
people. We must act in the
public interest, no matter how
tough, for the pains of today
cannot be compared to the
benefits of tomorrow. On
assumption of office as
President, I swore to an oath
to always act in the best
interest of the people. I
remain faithful to that
undertaking.
12. To save Nigeria, we must
all be prepared to make
sacrifices. On the part of
Government, we are taking
several measures aimed at
cutting the size and cost of
governance, including on-
going and continuous effort to
reduce the size of our
recurrent expenditure and
increase capital spending. In
this regard, I have directed
that overseas travels by all
political office holders,
including the President, should
be reduced to the barest
minimum. The size of
delegations on foreign trips
will also be drastically
reduced; only trips that are
absolutely necessary will be
approved.
13. For the year 2012, the
basic salaries of all political
office holders in the Executive
arm of government will be
reduced by 25%. Government
is also currently reviewing the
number of committees,
commissions and parastatals
with overlapping
responsibilities. The Report on
this will be submitted shortly
and the recommendations will
be promptly implemented. In
the meantime, all Ministries,
Departments and Agencies
must reduce their overhead
expenses.
14. We are all greatly
concerned about the issue of
corruption. The deregulation
policy is the strongest
measure to tackle this
challenge in the downstream
sector. In addition,
government is taking other
steps to further sanitize the oil
industry.
15. To ensure that the funds
from petroleum subsidy
removal are spent prudently
on projects that will build a
greater Nigeria, I have
established a committee to
oversee the implementation of
the Subsidy Reinvestment and
Empowerment Programme. I
sincerely believe that the
reinvestment of the petroleum
subsidy funds, to ensure
improvement in national
infrastructure, power supply,
transportation, irrigation and
agriculture, education,
healthcare, and other social
services, is in the best interest
of our people.
16. Fellow Nigerians, I know
that the removal of the
petroleum subsidy imposes an
initial burden on our people,
especially the rising cost of
transportation. Government
will be vigilant and act
decisively to curb the excesses
of those that want to exploit
the current situation for selfish
gains. I plead for the
understanding of all Nigerians.
I appeal to our youth not to
allow mischief-makers to
exploit present circumstances
to mislead or incite them to
disturb public peace.
17. To address the immediate
challenges that have been
identified, I have directed all
Ministries, Departments and
Agencies of government to
embark immediately on all
projects, which have been
designed to cushion the
impact of the subsidy removal
in the short, medium and long-
term, as outlined in the
Subsidy Reinvestment and
Empowerment Programme
Document.
18. Tomorrow, 8th January, I
will formally launch a robust
mass transit intervention
programme to bring down the
cost of transportation across
the country. The programme
will be implemented in
partnership with state and
local governments, labour
unions, transport owners, and
banking institutions, and
supported with the provision
of funding at zero interest rate
as well as import duty waiver
on all needed parts for locally-
made mass transit vehicles,
which will create additional
jobs in the economy.
19. We will keep these
incentives in place for as long
as it takes. I want to assure
you that Government will not
rest until we bring down the
cost of transportation for our
people. Let me thank the
transporters’ associations that
have agreed to reduce
transport fares. I have directed
the Minister of Labour and
Productivity to work with
these associations to come up
with a sustainable plan to
guarantee this within the
shortest possible time.
20. In addition, I have ordered
the mobilization of contractors
for the full rehabilitation of the
Port Harcourt –Maiduguri
Railway Line and the
completion of the Lagos-Kano
Railway Line. I have also
directed the immediate
commencement of a Public
Works programme that will
engage the services of about
10, 000 youths in every state
of the Federation and the
Federal Capital Territory. This
will create an additional 370,
000 jobs.
21. Government has taken
these decisions in the best
interest of our economy, so
that we not only have benefits
today, but to ensure that we
bequeath even greater
benefits to our children and
grandchildren.
22. Let me assure Nigerians
that every possible effort will
be made to ensure that we
march forward, with a
collective resolve to build a
Nigeria that can generate
greater economic growth,
create and sustain new jobs,
and secure the future of our
children.
23. This Administration will
aggressively implement its
programme to reposition and
strengthen our economy,
while paying adequate
attention to the immediate
needs of our citizens.
24. I assure you all that we will
work towards achieving full
domestic refining of petroleum
products with the attendant
benefits.
25. As I ask for the full
understanding of all Nigerians,
I also promise that I will keep
my word.
26. Thank you. May God bless
you; and may God bless the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President
Federal Republic of Nigeria
January 7, 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment