President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his assurance that this administration will work diligently to make sure every Nigerian feels the impact of the government, reassuring that the economic aspirations and the material well-being of the poor, the most vulnerable and the working people shall not be neglected.
Tinubu in his New Year message to Nigerians said in this spirit his administration will implement a new national living wage for its industrious workers in 2024 while stated clearly that not only good economics will do this, but also a morally and politically correct thing to do.
According to him, “I took an oath to serve this country and give my best at all times. Like I said in the past, no excuse for poor performance from any of my appointees will be good enough.
“It is the reason I put in place a Policy Coordination, Evaluation, Monitoring and Delivery Unit in the Presidency to make sure that governance output improves the living condition of our people.
“We have set the parameters for evaluation. Within the first quarter of this new year, Ministers and Heads of Agencies with a future in this administration that I lead will continue to show themselves”, he said.
Tinubu restated his major ambition in government as a Senator in the aborted Third Republic, as Governor of Lagos State for 8years and now as the President of this blessed country is to build a fair, equitable society and close the widening inequality.
He said, “While I believe the rich should enjoy their legitimately-earned wealth, our minimum bargain must be that, any Nigerian that works hard and diligent enough will have a chance to get ahead in life.
“I must add that because God didn’t create us with equal talents and strengths, I can not guarantee that we will have equal outcomes when we work hard. But my government, in this new year 2024 and beyond, will work to give every Nigerian equal opportunity to strive and to thrive”.
He pressed further that for the new year to yield all its good benefits to every Nigerian as individuals and collectively as a people, the citizens must be prepared to play their part. “The job of building a prosperous nation is not the job of the President, Governors, Ministers, Lawmakers and government officials alone.
“Our destinies are connected as members of this household of Nigeria. Our language, creed, ethnicity and religious beliefs even when they are not same should never make us work at cross purposes. In this new year, let us resolve that as joint-heirs to Nigerian Commonwealth, we will work for the peace, progress and stability of our country.
Tinubu extended the call to his political opponents in the last election, adding that election is over and it’s time for all to work together for the sake of the country. “We must let the light each of us carries, men and women, young and old- shine bright and brighter to illuminate our path to a glorious dawn”, he said.
Speaking of 2023, the President said it was a very challenging one, and was eventful in so many ways, adding that for Nigeria, it was a transition year that saw a peaceful, orderly and successful transfer of power from one administration to another, marking another remarkable step in the country’s 24 years of unbroken democracy.
“It was a year, you the gracious people of this blessed nation, entrusted your faith in me with a clear mandate to make our country better, to revamp our economy, restore security within our borders.
“Revitalise our floundering industrial sector, boost agric production, increase national productivity and set our country on an irreversible path towards national greatness that we and future generations will forever be proud of.
“The task of building a better nation and making sure we have a Nigeria society that cares for all her citizens is the reason I ran to become your President. It was the core of my Renewed Hope campaign message on the basis of which you voted me as President.
“Everything I have done in office, every decision I have taken and every trip I have undertaken outside the shores of our land, since I assumed office on 29 May 2023, have been done in the best interest of our country.
“Over the past seven months of our administration, I have taken some difficult and yet necessary decisions to save our country from fiscal catastrophe. One of those decisions was the removal of fuel subsidy which had become an unsustainable financial burden on our country for more than four decades.
“Another was the removal of the chokehold of few people on our foreign exchange system that benefited only the rich and the most powerful among us. Without doubt, these two decisions brought some discomfort to individuals, families and businesses.
Tinubu noted that he is well aware that for some time now the conversations, debates have centred on the rising cost of living, high inflation which is now above 28% and the unacceptable high under-employment rate.
He said, “From the boardrooms at Broad Street in Lagos to the main-streets of Kano and Nembe Creeks in Bayelsa, I hear the groans of Nigerians who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families.
“I am not oblivious to the expressed and sometimes unexpressed frustrations of my fellow citizens. I know for a fact that some of our compatriots are even asking if this is how our administration wants to renew their hope”, Tinubu said.
He pointed out that this time things may be rough and tough, but however, Nigerians’ spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last.
“We are made for this period, never to flinch, never to falter. The socio-economic challenges of today should energize and rekindle our love and faith in the promise of Nigeria.
“Our current circumstances should make us resolve to work better for good of our beloved nation. Our situation should make us resolve that this new year 2024, each and everyone of us will commit to be better citizens”, he said.
