2023 exit plan: Don’t abandon governance for election campaign — Buhari warns Ministers, political appointees
…Directs Cabinet members to commence transition plan
…To complete reorganisation of oil, gas agencies in Q1, 2023
…Signs Executive Order 012 to boost accountability, transparency
…100,000 persons lost, over 2m displaced, N3.24trn damages lost to insurgency — CDS
…Confirms N2.5trn expenditure by Armed Forces in seven years
President Muhammadu Buhari has warned political appointees including ministers and top government officials not to abandon governance for electioneering, threatening that anyone found wanting of such infraction would answer to the neglect.
Working towards his exit plan from office, President Buhari, despite harsh criticisms of poor performance also jumped into self appraisal that his administration has scored pass mark on impact projects, while directing all political appointees must steer the portfolio of their offices to the very end, and not shelve same aside for 2023 electioneering politicking.
This is also as the President has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr. Boss Mustapha and the Ministers to commence preparation for a transition plan for the incoming Administration to ensure proper documentation of all the Policies, Programmes and Projects of Government with up-to-date status of implementation.
Issuing the directive at the closing ceremony of the 2022 Ministerial Performance Review Retreat, preceded by his signing of Executive Order 012 on Improving Performance Management, Coordination and Implementation of Presidential Priorities, the President warned Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Agencies not to abandon the business of governance for electioneering, saying “any infraction will be viewed seriously.”
Buhari told participants at the Retreat that with the commencement of campaigns toward the 2023 general elections, the business of governance must continue to receive the needed attention during this period.
“Consequently, all Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Agencies must remain focused in the discharge of their duties, as any infraction will be viewed seriously.
“Our collective goal is to map out a transition plan for the incoming Administration to ensure proper documentation of all the Policies, Programmes and Projects of Government with up-to-date status of implementation,” he said.
President Buhari noted that the lessons learnt in the last three years of implementing the administration’s policies, programmes and projects would serve as the needed tool to propel every Ministry to remain committed, towards the achievement of developmental objectives.
He, therefore, charged all ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of government agencies to step up, double their efforts and work in synergy toward the total delivery of the Administration’s set targets.
…Signs Executive Order 012 to boost accountability, transparency
On Executive Order 12, the President explained that it would institutionalise a culture of accountability and transparency in the pursuit of good governance.
President Buhari also directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to continue with the quarterly review process and assessment of ministries for the third and fourth Quarters of 2022, saying the reports will form part of the transition documents of his administration to the incoming government.
To achieve this objective, the President ordered all Ministers and Permanent Secretaries to ensure that the performance reports of their Ministries are submitted on a quarterly basis to the Office of the SGF for review by the Central Delivery Coordination Unit.
“The outcome of these reviews would be made available for my consideration,” the President said.
He also declared that following discussion and recommendations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has been directed to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure the completion of all large-scale integrated Rice Processing Mills before the end of this Administration.
“This will help our country to maintain sufficiency in the local production of rice as the ban on the importation of foreign rice will be sustained,” he said.
On electricity, President Buhari directed that all hands must be on deck to ensure timely realisation of the increase in electricity generation to 25,000 Megawatts in six years.
He recounted that the plan on electricity generation, through the partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and German Siemens AG, is on course as the first batch of the transformers has arrived Nigeria already.
Security of infrastructure
Considering the huge investment made in the rail sector, the President directed the Ministry of Transportation and relevant security Agencies to ensure the provision of maximum security along the railway corridors.
“We must ensure the safety of our rail users and strive to achieve the intended economic goals. We must at the same time ensure realizable schedules and first-class maintenance.
“Following the milestones recorded in the road sector, coupled with the innovative ways of funding road infrastructure, the Ministry of Works and Housing has been directed to compile a list of all completed roads, bridges and other infrastructure for commissioning before the end of this Administration,” he said.
Furthermore, the President directed that the Federal Government’s investment in the reconstruction of 21 selected ongoing Federal Roads totalling 1,804.6km, under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Policy must be closely monitored and tracked to ensure the roads are completed on schedule.
“In line with the outcome of the Panel session on Priority 4 (Improve Transportation and Other Infrastructure), the Ministry of Aviation is hereby directed to conclude and ensure the take-off of the National Carrier Project before the end of the year,” he said.
Revenue Management
To expand the fiscal space and improve the nation’s revenue generation efforts, President Buhari directed the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to ensure effective implementation of the Strategic Revenue and Growth Initiative.
“In the same vein, we must also build synergy between the fiscal and monetary authorities in order to avoid unnecessary drawbacks in our economic planning and performance,” he said.
On the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, the President directed that a monitoring and evaluation framework be put in place by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with relevant agencies and partners to track the disbursement and utilisation of the Fund.
Humanitarian concern
On humanitarian issues, the President noted that in the three years of existence of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, the ministry has provided substantial support and assistance to vulnerable citizens through various programmes.
He, therefore, directed the Minister to facilitate and work with the Attorney General of the Federation in transmitting the Federal Executive Council’s approved National Social Investment Programme Establishment Bill (2022) to the National Assembly.
This, he said, would ensure the sustainability of this important programme which leaves a lasting legacy for the vulnerable Nigerians by this Administration.
Economy
On industry, trade and investment, the President directed the Ministry to engage relevant stakeholders to secure privatization of the six Special Economic Zones as approved by the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE).
To complement the current efforts in the Oil and Gas Sector, the President announced that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has been mandated to ensure the completion of the reorganisation of the new Agencies unbundled from the defunct Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation in line with their mandates.
“This should be completed by the end of the 1st Quarter of 2023,” he said.
Pending bills
President Buhari also used the occasion to appeal to the National Assembly to fast-track the consideration and passage of key legislative bills as agreed during the Panel Session at the Retreat.
“This will serve as our collective legacy towards entrenching key reforms that will serve as a springboard for the next Administration,” he said.
According to Buhari, the two-day retreat provided an opportunity for “reflection and lesson learning aimed at reviewing progress and agreeing on key actions that will ensure we finish well by the end of our Administration come May 29th, 2023.”
“We have used the opportunity provided by this Retreat to carry out an objective assessment of our commitments in line with the contract we signed with the Nigerian people at the inception of this Administration in 2019.
“I am glad to note that we have sustained this yearly stock-taking innovative initiatives introduced in 2019 by holding three consecutive Performance Review Retreats in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. This has helped us to clearly identify what we have done, what needs to be done and how best to get it done.
“From the assessment report and discussions at this Retreat, it is evident that we have made appreciable progress through collective efforts in setting the Nation on the path of sustainable development while improving the well-being of our people.
“Notwithstanding these achievements, there are still unfinished businesses that we must speedily complete to ensure we finish well. We must, therefore, endeavour to close every gap in our implementation efforts to ensure the attainment of set targets by 2023,” he said.
…Government scored pass mark on impact projects — Buhari
Meanwhile, despite scathing criticisms on his government’s failure to meet the expectations of Nigerians on security and economy, Buhari mentioning that his government has attained a pass mark with high impact projects, claimed that he has met the yearnings and expectations of Nigerians.
Buhari, further held that for over seven-year of his Administration, the government had made tremendous successes in areas of agriculture, economics, infrastructure, security, health, and anti-corruption with over 3,800 kilometres of new roads built throughout the nation.
He also announced that before the end of the year, the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, which has been protracted would launch commercial flight operations.
According to the President, work on the establishment of national carrier had reached 91 per cent and that commercial flight operations are anticipated to start before the end of the year.
“In recognition of the importance of critical infrastructure in economic development and the quest of this administration to leave a lasting legacy, we have implemented high-impact projects across the length and breadth of the country that meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
“Some of the notable achievements include the completion of 326km Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line and railway ancillary facilities; the completion of over 156.5km Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway modernisation project with extension to Lagos Port, Apapa.
“On road projects, this administration has constructed 408Km of roads; 2,499Km of SUKUK roads and maintenance of 15,961Km of roads across the country. Key among these projects are the construction of 1.9km 2nd Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta States with 10.30km approach road; rehabilitation, construction and expansion of Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan dual carriageway; the ongoing rehabilitation of Abuja-Kaduna – Zaria – Kano Road, among others,” he said.
Buhari who mentioned that the Federal Government under his watch had sustained commitment to infrastructural development for the past seven years, said over 941 kilometre of completed SUKUK road projects nationwide had been handed over to beneficiaries.
According to him, 38 new aircraft were purchased for the Nigerian Air Force to help the country’s military fight insurgency; 38.7 million Nigerians fully vaccinated against COVID-19, representing 35 per cent of the total eligible population target for vaccination with the reconstruction of 21 selected federal roads totalling 1,804.6km, under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Policy.
According to him, the roads, which are funded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) are in addition to similar existing collaboration with Messrs Dangote Industries Limited and other corporate organisations to improve the stock of the country’s road infrastructure.
Buhari said the feat was being boosted with the certification of Lagos and Abuja International Airports by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, while Kano and Port Harcourt Airports are undergoing similar certification processes.
On the economy for which his government has suffered lashings, he said that the Country had witnessed seven consecutive quarters of growth, after negative growth rates recorded in the second and third quarters of 2020.
“The GDP grew by 3.54 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the 2nd Quarter of 2022. This growth rate represents a sustained positive economic performance, especially for the Non-Oil GDP which fell by 4.77 per cent in Q2 2022 against Oil GDP that grew by -11.77 per cent. Most sectors of the economy recorded positive growth which reflects the effective implementation of the economic sustainability measures introduced by this Administration,” he said.
On the Communications and Digital Economy Sector, Buhari said giant strides had been made through broadband coverage which currently stands at 44.32 per cent, reinforced by 77.52 per cent 4G coverage with the establishment of 36,751 4G base stations nationwide.
Buhari declared that the power sector has remained a critical priority for the administration, adding that the implementation of a ‘Willing Buyer-Willing Seller’ policy introduced by the Federal Government had opened up opportunities for increased delivery of electricity to underserved homes and industries.
On the fight against corruption, Buhari promised that the administration would continue to review and prosecute high-profile corruption cases and ensure speedy completion.
He said 9,990,862 pupils were being fed through the School Feeding Programme, which employed 128,531 cooks in local communities.
On agriculture, he said as a direct result of investment, the sector has experienced significant growth.
Buhari to unveil Tinubu’s manifesto on Friday
This is just as indications have emerged that President Buhari will on Friday unveil the manifesto and policy document of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
