The President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Tuesday in Abuja restated his commitment to build strong institutions to tackle corruption and bring perpetrators of graft in the country to justice.
Speaking at the official declaration for a second term bid, Jonathan said that he was determined and focused on eradicating corruption in other sectors as he did in the agricultural sector.
He said that his administration had weeded out 56,000 ghost workers from the federal civil service through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), saving N162 billion in the process.
“I have directed the ICPC to bring the perpetrators of this criminal act to book, let it be very clear that as public officers, we must live by example.
“We must fully account for monies entrusted in our care,’’ the president told a mammoth crowd of supporters, party leaders and members at the Eagle Square, venue of the declaration rally.
Jonathan, who highlighted the achievements of his administration in all sectors of the economy, unveiled his plans to build on the foundation and move the nation toward a more prosperous future.
In the health sector, he recalled how the country was able to defeat the Ebola virus disease with the support of governments of Lagos and Rivers states as well as other Nigerians.
He said that just as Ebola was stopped, the country was on its way to eradicating Polio.
He added that he would not hand over polio to his successor.
On education, Jonathan said that his administration established 14 new universities out of which two were specialised, adding that “every Nigerian state now has a federal university’’.
He said that over N500 billion had been spent through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and Special Needs Assessment Fund on various projects to improve the quality of educational infrastructure at the tertiary level.
He added that his administration had established 150 almajiri schools across the northern states to provide equal access and opportunities in education.
Jonathan said that the Fedearl Government was currently building out-of-school-children schools, including specialised boys and girls across the country.
In the agricultural sector, he said that his government had succeeded in eradicating corruption in the provision and distribution of fertiliser to farmers.
According to him, fertilisers have been taken from the greedy and given to the needy under his government.
He said that with the one billion dollar invested by the Dangote group in rice production, coupled with numerous government’s programmes, Nigeria would soon become a net exporter of rice.
The president said that he had started a “revolution’’ in the housing sector that would enable millions of Nigerians to become first time house owners.
According to him, 66,000 mortgage requests received from young Nigerians were already being processed.
He said that his government had completed the dredging of the River Niger from Baro in Niger state to Warri in Delta state.
On power, Jonathan said his government had pursued reforms to “an irreversible progress’’ and that additional hydro power stations were being built in Zungeru and Mambila.
Jonathan stated that his administration had laid solid democratic foundation for the country, and assured Nigerians that their votes would not only be counted but would truly count in 2015.
“We must continue to hold the tempo all high in our country. I am proud to say that there are no political prisoners in Nigeria today.
“No Nigerian has been driven to exile, no one and I repeat, no one will be driven to exile.
“It is in furtherance of a peaceful participatory and inclusive democracy that I signed the Freedom of Information bill into law to expand the frontiers of our fundamental freedom.
“Let me reaffirm that under a Jonathan presidency, your views, no matter how freely expressed, will not send you to prison or to exile.
“I am convinced that I have served my part with Nigerians and it is now time to look into the future.
“With your tremendous support, you have collectively done so much in the last three and a half years. But to take our country to the next level, there is still more work to be done.’’ (NAN)
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