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Full Text of Tinubu’s 64th Independence Broadcast, Oct 1, 2024

Published

2 months ago

October 1, 2024

TEXT OF NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU ON THE 64TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA OCTOBER 1, 2024

Fellow Nigerians, as I address you today, I am deeply aware of the struggles many of you face in these challenging times. Our administration knows that many of you struggle with rising living costs and the search for meaningful employment. I want to assure you that your voices are heard.

As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Exactly 64 years ago, our founding fathers chose democracy as a form of government and launched the dream of a great country that would lead the rest of Africa out of poverty, ignorance, and underdevelopment, a beacon of hope to the rest of Africa and the world.

Over six decades later, we can look back, and Nigerians worldwide can see how well we have succeeded in realising the lofty dreams of our founding fathers.

The world is witnessing and benefiting from the can-do spirit of the Nigerian people, our massive intellectual capacity, and our enterprise and industry in all vocations, from arts to science, technology to infrastructure. The dreams that our founding fathers envisaged are still a work in progress. Every day, we put our hands on the plough, determined to do a better job of it.

While it is tempting to focus on what has been left undone and where we have stumbled as a nation, we must never lose sight of how far we have come in forging and holding our country together.

Since independence, our nation has survived many crises and upheavals that led to the dissolution and disintegration of many other nations worldwide. Six years after independence, our country descended into a political crisis that led to a bitter and avoidable civil war. Since returning from the brink of that darkest moment, we have learned to embrace our diversity and manage our differences better as we continue to work towards engendering a more perfect union.

Despite the many challenges that buffeted our country, we remain a strong, united, and viable sovereign nation.

Dear compatriots, our independence anniversary gives us another chance to reflect on how far we have gone in our journey to nation-building and to renew our commitment to building a better nation that will serve present and future generations of Nigerians.

While we celebrate the progress we have made as a people in the last sixty-four years, we must also recognise some of our missed opportunities and mistakes of the past. If we are to become one of the greatest nations on earth, as God has destined us to be, our mistakes must not be allowed to follow us into the future.

My administration took over the leadership of our country 16 months ago at a critical juncture. The economy faced many headwinds, and our physical security was highly impaired. We found ourselves at a dizzying crossroads, where we must choose between two paths: reform for progress and prosperity or carry on business-as-usual and collapse. We decided to reform our political economy and defence architecture.

On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry. Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country.

We have restored peace to hundreds of communities in the North, and thousands of our people have been able to return home. It is an unfinished business, which our security agencies are committed to ending as quickly as possible. As soon as we can restore peace to many communities in the troubled parts of the North, our farmers can return to their farms. We expect to see a leap in food production and a downward spiral in food costs. I promise you, we shall not falter on this.

Our government has been responding to the recent natural disasters, particularly the flooding in parts of the country. After Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri, I also visited to assure our people that this federal government will always stand with our people in their times of trouble. At the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, we approved a Disaster Relief Fund to mobilise private and public sector funds to help us respond faster to emergencies.

Our government has also ordered integrity tests of all our dams in the country to avert future disasters.

The economy is undergoing the necessary reforms and retooling to serve us better and more sustainably. If we do not correct the fiscal misalignments that led to the current economic downturn, our country will face an uncertain future and the peril of unimaginable consequences.

Thanks to the reforms, our country attracted foreign direct investments worth more than $30 billion in the last year.

Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.

The move will create vibrancy and increase oil and gas production, positively impacting our economy.

The more disciplined approach adopted by the Central Bank to monetary policy management has ensured stability and predictability in our foreign exchange market. We inherited a reserve of over $33 billion 16 months ago. Since then, we have paid back the inherited forex backlog of $7 billion. We have cleared the ways and means debt of over N30 trillion. We have reduced the debt service ratio from 97 per cent to 68 per cent. Despite all these, we have managed to keep our foreign reserve at $37 billion. We continue to meet all our obligations and pay our bills.

We are moving ahead with our fiscal policy reforms. To stimulate our productive capacity and create more jobs and prosperity, the Federal Executive Council approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which will now be transmitted to the National Assembly. These transformative bills will make our business environment more friendly, stimulate investment and reduce the tax burden on businesses and workers once they are passed into law.

As part of our efforts to re-engineer our political economy, we are resolute in our determination to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the financial autonomy of local governments.

The central concern of our people today is the high cost of living, especially food costs. This concern is shared by many around the globe as prices and the cost of living continue to rise worldwide.

My fellow Nigerians, be assured that we are implementing many measures to reduce the cost of living here at home.

I commend the Governors particularly, in Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Nasarawa, and the Southwest Governors that have embraced our agricultural production programme. I urge other states to join the Federal Government in investing in mechanised farming. We are playing our part by supplying fertilizer and making tractors and other farm equipment available. Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved establishing a local assembly plant for 2000 John Deere tractors, combine harvesters, disc riders, bottom ploughs and other farm equipment. The plant has a completion time of six months.

Our energy transition programme is on course. We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.

Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion. Our economy can only thrive when there is peace.

As we work to overcome the challenges of the day, we remain mindful of the next generation as we seek to galvanize their creative energy towards a better future. We lead today with the future we wish to bequeath to our children in focus, recognizing that we cannot design a future that belongs to them without making them its architects.

Considering this, I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference. This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who constitute more than 60 per cent of our population. It will provoke meaningful dialogue and empower our young people to participate actively in nation-building. By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.

The 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives. Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations. The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and outcomes from this forum as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria.

Our government is implementing several other youth-centric programmes to give our young people an advantage in the rapidly changing world. We are implementing, amongst others, the 3 million Technical Talents programme (3MTT) of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone.

We have also enthusiastically implemented the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provides cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams. In addition, later this month, we shall launch The Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP). It is conceived as a comprehensive suite of interventions at job creation by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment that is aimed at facilitating the creation of 2.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly, on an annual incremental basis whilst simultaneously ensuring the welfare and safety of workers across the country.

As is the tradition, the government will soon announce all the beneficiaries of our national honours for 2024.

The Senate President and the Chief Justice of the Federation have been conferred with the honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). The deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives have the honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), while the deputy speaker of the House has been awarded Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) .

Fellow Nigerians, better days are ahead of us. The challenges of the moment must always make us believe in ourselves. We are Nigerians—resilient and tenacious. We always prevail and rise above our circumstances.

I urge you to believe in our nation’s promise. The road ahead may be challenging, but we will forge a path toward a brighter future with your support. Together, we will cultivate a Nigeria that reflects the aspirations of all its citizens, a nation that resonates with pride, dignity, and shared success.

As agents of change, we can shape our destiny and build a brighter future by ourselves, for ourselves and for future generations.

Please join our administration in this journey towards a brighter future. Let us work together to build a greater Nigeria where every citizen can access opportunities and every child can grow up with hope and promise.

May God continue to bless our nation and keep members of our armed forces safe.

Happy Independence anniversary, my fellow Nigerians!

-President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

News

Gov Alia approves N75,000 minimum wage for Benue workers

Published

4 minutes ago

November 19, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has approved a minimum wage of N75,000 for workers in the state.

According to his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor announced this on Monday at the State Secretariat after a meeting with representatives of organised labour.

He also stated that the remaining three months of the five-month backlog of arrears promised to the union will be paid as budgeted in the 2024 budget, along with the minimum wage, effective November 2024.

Alia said: “We are implementing a new national minimum wage of N75,000. We decided to set the wage at N75,000, fully aware of the other concerns raised by organised labour during the negotiations.

“These concerns included a minimum wage of N30,000, wage awards, transportation allowances, tax relief, and work-off days, among others.

“Recall that the President had approved the sum of N70,000, which we have decided to exceed, considering the concerns raised by organised labour regarding our ability to pay.”

He emphasised that his government is committed to serving the common man, stressing that he will do everything legitimately possible to ensure that the workers of Benue State are properly taken care of.

He further stated that his motivation to ensure the arrears are paid is to alleviate the effects of hardship on workers.

News

You’re undermining Southwest support for Tinubu — Gov. Adeleke warns Ganduje

Published

13 minutes ago

November 19, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has challenged the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, to stop trying to destabilise the Southwest if he loves President Bola Tinubu.

Adeleke was reacting to Ganduje’s remarks about the Southwest after the Ondo State governorship election.

Ganduje had said Osun and Oyo states are APC’s next target after the party emerged victorious in the Ondo State governorship election.

Reacting, the governor argued that Ganduje’s statement was intended to destabilise the southwest region and incite conflict.

A statement by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, reads partly: “As a well-read politician, one would have expected Dr Ganduje to know that electoral contests depend mostly on local indexes and factors and what was obtained in Edo and Ondo is surely different from political facts on the ground in Osun State.

“If Dr Ganduje truly loves Mr President, why is he pushing to destabilise the president’s home zone through open threats to violate electoral law and deny the electorate their rights to vote and be voted for?

“By threatening to hijack opposition states, the APC leader is undermining the general consensus among Yoruba people, which accepts Mr President as their own irrespective of political differences.

“If however the statement of the APC leader is borne out of ignorance, he is invited to study Osun politics to get better informed of the dynamics of this state’s politics and to appreciate that what works in Edo and Ondo cannot play out here for several reasons.”

News

FG To Stop Varsity From Producing Graduates Without Technical Skills

Published

15 minutes ago

November 19, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has vowed to put a stop to the trend of tertiary institutions producing graduates who lack technical skills.

The minister, who recently got appointed into the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu to man the Ministry of Education, said he plans to shift to a model where education will be 20 percent theoretical and 80 percent practical.

He made the disclosure at the 2024 TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition in Abuja, which officially opened on Monday.

While emphasising the need to promote technical and vocational education, across board, he decried a situation where tertiary institutions continue to churn out graduates who lack the requisite skills to function effectively in society.

“We are going to realign our educational system to meet the needs of Nigerians. We have a unique demographic profile—over 220 million people, with 70 percent of them below the age of 30.

“These young men and women are energetic, eager to learn, and ready to contribute to this country. We need to equip them with the right skills.

“We will shift to a model where education is 20 percent theoretical and 80 percent practical. That’s how we are going to move forward. Enough of producing graduates who lack technical skills.

“We need to create jobs and provide life skills for young Nigerians. For our TVET programmes, we will incentivise people to enroll in technical schools. We will cover their tuition and build capacity in these schools.

“During their training, 20 percent will involve classroom learning, while 80 percent will be hands-on apprenticeship. This is how we will ensure they are ready to contribute meaningfully to the workforce,” he stated.

The minister equally revealed that President Tinubu has approved N5 billion for investment in research activities for 2024 through the National Research Fund, managed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Alausa noted that the fund is aimed at ensuring that appropriate research is conducted in public tertiary institutions to develop solutions to many of Nigeria’s national development challenges.

According to the minister, “At this time in our democratic development, Nigeria is facing several challenges, including youth underemployment, the effects of poverty, insecurity, and infrastructure decay.

“However, we believe that the contributions of professionals, as showcased in this National Research Fair, will play a critical role in addressing these challenges.

“Our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has already emphasised that his Renewed Hope Agenda will be implemented primarily based on local research and innovation outputs.

“As seen in other countries, economic growth cannot be achieved without leveraging the outcomes of research and technological efforts.”

Alausa noted that the Research Fair would also foster the desired synergy among relevant research and innovation agencies to accelerate the application of their efforts and results toward nation building.

According to him, this synergy would ensure that the dividends of democracy are delivered efficiently and that research and innovation institutions, which are currently scattered across various ministries, are better coordinated for greater effectiveness.