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To realize these, we shall establish a national commission for roads development somewhat similar to the DFRRI of the Babangida era though with a different management structure, philosophy and scope. This commission which shall be made up of professional/specialists in all aspects/dimensions of road construction and development shall report directly to the president
b. a comprehensive, long term policy that will ensure that energy prices reflect the real costs of supply, and encourage innovative processes in competitive market necessary to benefit from the existence of efficient technologies.
c. The development of commercial and institutional buildings with an improved allocation of social resources for efficient energy network.
d. The use of renewal sources of energy as well as generation of fossil-fuel using technologies to supplement energy end-use efficiency improvements.
e. every large corporation to show more concern about need for energy, efficient technologies and their applications in their headquarters.
f. National efforts to harmonise standards and regulations on energy efficiency. Emphasis should recognize the need for significant energy savings at relatively low programme cost.
g. every manufacturer to adhere strictly to agreements on energy efficient rules and regulations.
h. Of architectural modifications to improve building efficiency to meet with the growing pull and push needs to the rural and urban dwellers.
i. Shifting energy subsidy towards the purchase of energy efficiency products to reduce energy demand growth and overall cost.
j. Setting up urgently an Energy Commission with university lecturers as members, particularly those who are experts in the energy sector.
Alternative sources of energy
Our administration recognizes that oil energy resources may decline considerably in reserves by 2025-2050, and alternative energy sources include
a. of all the fossil fuels, coal is the most abundant in Nigeria. Globally, coal-fired power stations supply nearly 40% of world's electricity. Nigeria's coal has low sulphur content and will be extensively exploited for domestic uses and exports (as in Australia).
b. Nuclear Energy
This is the time for Nigeria to develop nuclear energy source for peaceful uses. Given the energy challenges in the years ahead, Nigeria will invest and develop nuclear energy reactors. This is promising because Nigeria is richly endowed with uranium miner al deposit (among other ingredients).
c. Wind power
Mankind has long harnessed the power of the wind as a source of energy. High tech windmills generate enough non-polluting, renewable power worldwide to provide electricity. Denmark generates 25 per cent of its electricity from wind power alone. India claims the 5th largest windmill power capacity in the world. Germany and Spain are rapidly adopting wind power. The USA currently has no less than 13,000 windmills generating electricity. Nigeria of our dream will invest in wind power source of electricity.
d. Solar Energy will challenge our capacity to use man-made photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity, when the sun's ray excites electrons in the cells. Nearly 500 million watts of electricity are produced by this method.
e. Hydroelectric power dams/plants will be reactivated in Nigeria with government partnership with the private sector. It will impact positively on irrigation agriculture as well.
Utilization of Nigeria Satellite 1 in National Development
A prerequisite for meeting the challenges of modern productive technology in Nigeria rests heavily on National capacity building to employ earth observation technologies or satellites in providing crucial inputs required for operationalizing development strategies.
Nigeria has stated in this direction by approving a National Space Policy and Programmes and the establishment of National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).
Experts have observed that the Nigeria space agenda falls in line with the recently launched New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Nigerian government of our vision will continue to support very actively the uses of earth observation satellites from space to impact positively upon National development and self reliance. Happily, a micro-satellite called Nigeria Sat-1 was successfully launched into low earth orbit on September 27, 2003. it involved 15 Nigerian engineers/scientists who received training and learning in all aspects of satellite technology. Its geo-information acquisition capacity will empower the country to boost food production, health energy, communications, mining, industrial production, national security and defense.
Our vision will extend to the uses of gained experiences in Nigeria Sat-1 for the development of an African Reserve Management (ARM) constellation satellites (as proposed by South Africa with the support of Algeria). We shall make the future of Nigeria brighter.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS
The civil service remains an indisputable pillar of any government. Any administration that ignores this fact can only do this to its peril. Based on this self evident truth, our administration shall create a civil service that is well trained and competent, has speed, is creative, has initiative, is transparent, abreast in advancement in information technology, committed and above all, productively effective and efficient, to serve as a veritable instrument of development engineering.
To build the civil service of our dream, we shall embark on meaningful reforms in all aspects of the operations of the civil service. We shall streamline existing civil service reform programmes to make it knowledge driven and able to cope with our speed and desire to positively touch the lives of Nigerians through our people oriented policies.
Realising that our dream of achieving national development can only be made possible by a civil service that is properly and adequately motivated, we shall review the remuneration structure of the civil service.
Those who retire from the service must return home with dignity into prosperity rather than poverty and death, as is the case today. Those who have served the nation meritoriously must go home with their entitlements to start a new and meaningful life. This we promise.
INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
We recognize that successful federal systems are those that are anchored on peaceful and harmonious relationship between and among the different tiers of government.
We are determined to make Nigerian federalism succeed by encouraging peaceful federal-state-local government relations. To make this possible, we shall respect the three main principles underlying inter-governmental relations, i.e., fiscal federalism, jurisdictional division of powers, among the tiers of government and, the establishment of administrative mechanisms for the management and maintenance of federal-state-local government relations.
Fiscal Federalism
Our party and government shall strictly abide by the fiscal responsibility of the tiers of government as defined by the constitution. More importantly, our government shall work closely with the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission to streamline fiscal relationship with the tiers of government in such a way that the states and local governments are allocated enough money from the federation account, commensurate with their enormous responsibilities, in keeping with the spirit of true federalism.
Division of power
We shall strictly run a constitutional government, respecting the jurisdictional distribution of power by the constitution. Our government will not condone any attempt by the federal government or any of its agencies to interfere or usurp the power of the co-ordinate tiers of government, which in the past has constituted a sore point in the relationship between the federal government on one hand and the states and local government on the other.
Mechanisms for Managing and Maintaining IGR
Our government shall establish administrative mechanisms for maintaining and lubricating relationship between the federal, state and local government. We shall create a forum for regular interactions such as workshops and meeting, between the federal, state and local government service commission. These interactive sessions will help resolve common problems and improve public personnel relations among the tiers of government.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Time has come for Nigeria to show demonstrated concern, humanness and empathy for those of its citizens that are in any way disadvantaged or under-privileged. Nigeria has the resources to to give succor, and secure the future of the aged, the unemployed, the physically challenged, and the motherless, just to mention a few
Our party and government shall show compassion to these categories of citizens by establishing welfare programmes, institutions or agencies with mandate to provide social security to deserving Nigerian. Indeed, this shall form part of the reform programmes we envisage for the public service.
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT
The centrality of infrastructural facilities especially roads, bridges, seaports and airports to economic and general national development cannot be over-emphasized. Consequently, our administration, immediately on assumption of office, shall embark upon massive road rehabilitation, reconstruction and expansion of the existing ones as well as construction of new ones through out the country.
Our agenda for infrastructural development shall be predicated on the principles of equity, justice and fair play such that no section or geo-political zone of the country is excluded or marginalized.
Our administration shall pay special attention to the oil and other mineral resources and food producing area/communities in respect to road construction. To this end, more roads and bridges shall be constructed while the existing ones are rehabilitated and expanded to link and open up these areas to allow uninhibited inflow of investments into these areas/communities which in turn will lead to exponential growth in employment opportunities.
1. To realize these, we shall establish a national commission for roads development somewhat similar to the DFRRI of the Babangida era though with a different management structure, philosophy and scope. This commission which shall be made up of professional/specialists in all aspects/dimensions of road construction and development shall report directly to the president.
2. Additionally, our massive in road construction shall be accompanied by similar increased investment in construction and development of additional seaports and airports to help decongest the existing ones to enhance free movement of people, as well as goods and services and hence improve general economic activities throughout the country.
3. We shall also introduce a more transparent, honest and corrupt-free system of contract award.
In all, our administration, through a number of ways shall encourage private sector participation in all aspect/dimension of infrastructural development.
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
Our government shall take special interest in transport matters and the entire sub-sector by investing very heavily to ensure proper and balanced development of the sub-sector. Our commitment in this direction is predicated on two important reasons - economic and socio-political.
1. Economic Reasons: It is our belief that improvement of our transport system will bring about more efficient and equitable distribution of goods and services from the point of manufacture to the final consumers. In this way, the overall economic activities including expansion of markets throughout the country shall be enhanced thereby bringing about general exponential economic growth and development.
2. National Integration: It is common knowledge that the improvement of the transport system throughout the country, which will further enhance human mobility, will enhance both the rapidity and frequency of interaction among citizens with diverse cultures and traditions. This will promote better understanding among them thereby promoting national integration and unity.
In effect therefore, it is the commitment of our government to develop our transport system as a vital strategy to achieve economic development and national integration of the Nigerian society.
Pursuant to this, our government shall among other things:
1. Establish a modern rail transportation system by revitalizing, reorganizing and expanding the existing system as well as introducing modern rail transportation facilities and infrastructure.
2. Re-organising and revitalizing the Federal Urban Mass Transit Authority through increased funding and improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the authority by cutting down on bureaucracy and red-tapism.
3. Re-organisation and revitalization of the inland waterways/transport system. This, we shall achieve via:
i. Dredging of the country's inland waterways thereby making them navigable all year round.
ii. Purchasing and introducing more watercraft and other vital inputs.
iii. Encouraging more private-sector participation either wholly on their own or in partnership with the various tiers of government.
COMMUNICATIONS
Our government, within the first eighteen months of assumption of office, shall digitalize and double the total number of telephone and telegraphic lines in the country.
We shall encourage more private sector participation but without jeorpadising National Security. Our long-term objective is to make more telephone lines easily available and affordable to more Nigerians while at the same time guaranteeing optimum profits for the private investors in the industry.
We shall also strengthen the existing regulatory institutions in the communications industry as well as cut down on bureaucracy thereby making them more efficient and effective. Our administration shall anchor its society on modern communications systems.
WOMEN AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
Over half of Nigeria's population is made up of women most of whom, through sheer hard work, have attained very enviable positions in the society. But, inspite of this, including their attainment of very high stature in the society, it is disheartening to note that they have not been accorded commensurate recognition. This is so evident in the fact that they are denied their rightful position in the scheme of things in the economic, political, and social spheres of human endeavor simply because of their gender. In other words, women in Nigeria have been seriously discriminated against and hence, marginalized. Thus for example, they (women) are scarcely appointed into top positions of authority in government including the civil, services and other national bureaucracies of authoritative decision-making including the armed forces, the police. In places where some are appointed, their numbers are too insignificant inspite of their huge population.
Our administration, on coming into office, shall change this trend and create an enabling environment where all citizens, including women, will have equal opportunity to aspire to any position of authority in all spheres of human endeavor, including important positions of police/decision making.
Our administration shall introduce radical laws and programmes which shall uplift women from their present marginalized position, and insure that they, as full-fledged citizens like their male counterparts, enjoy all the rights and privileges enshrined in the constitution especially as contained in chapter four - (Fundamental Rights) as well as in chapter two - (Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy) of our constitution.
To achieve our progressive agenda towards women, our government will among others, do the following:
1. We shall immediately take steps to strengthen the Ministry of Women Affairs to be more focused in planning, articulating, implementing and monitoring all initiatives designed to more effectively integrate our women folk into the mainstream of our national life.
2. Immediate steps shall be taken to examine all laws in our statue books, with particular reference to inheritance, widowhood and taxation and immediately repeal or amend the offensive ones.
3. We shall also take immediate steps to remove all economic, cultural and psychological obstacles to the education of women/ girl child.
4. We shall also institute programme of enlightenment to re-orient the attitudes and prejudices of the whole society towards women.
5. In addition, our administration shall introduce new special women empowerment programmes as well as improve and expand those already in existence. Such women's programme include:
a. Income generation programmes
b. Entrepreneurial and other related skills acquisition programmes
c. Programmes for women education
d. Programmes on health.
In all, our administration shall, on assumption of office, come up with a sound national policy on women that shall have the central objective of improving the lots of women by not only integrating them into the mainstream of our national life, but also by empowering the women via education.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
The youths are the leaders of tomorrow. But for the youths of any society to meaningfully assume such leadership, they must be made ready for that purpose. This is particularly important because any failure on the part of current leaders to prepare the youths for future leadership of the society will inevitably lead to the death of that society shortly after the demise of a current leadership. Our agenda for youth empowerment, which we shall set in motion immediately on assumption of office, will involve the following:
1. The establishment of youth development action strategies-
a. Work and Study Programme: This is designed primarily for those businessmen who are illiterate to enable them acquire education up to secondary level.
b. Leadership training programmes: This is to enable the outstanding youths imbibe leadership tenets as well as develop their innate potentials.
c. Expansion of the existing skill acquisition centres
2. The establishment of empowerment strategies
a. Micro-credit facilities
b. Organising and mobilizing the youths into certain economic cooperative societies.
c. Establishment of farm settlements which will open-up economic space to expand economic opportunities.
MEDIA POLICY
Media policy goes beyond information and communication to include the security and defense goals of a nation. The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that the mass media shall be free at all times to uphold the fundamental objectives enunciated In the Constitution itself, and to highlight the accountability of the government to the people. This provision flows from the recognition that a free press is indispensable to good government.
Accordingly, laws that are inconsistent with the mandate conferred on the press by the Constitution will be removed from the statute books, but without prejudice to the reputation and privacy of citizens, and to the security of the nation.
Since secrecy perpetuates bureaucratic error, government business will be conducted in a spirit of openness, and the media will enjoy access to information not classified. The classification system will be reviewed to ensure that only highly sensitive material, unauthorized disclosure of which could undermine security, will be classified.
New is a form of knowledge, and the mass media are a pivotal part of the consciousness industry. No special tax should be placed on the acquisition of knowledge. Nor should the operations of the media be governed by laws not generally applicable to other businesses.
Accordingly, material required for mass media operations will be treated as educational material and exempted from duties and tariffs. Laws constraining the operations of the media, such as those relating to licensing posting of bonds and sureties, etc, will be reviewed.
At the same time, to ensure that the review does not lead to a fall in standards, The Press Council will be well funded so that it can handle complaint against the Press speedily and effectively.
The opening up of the electronic media to private ownership will continue apace. The regulatory agencies will be responsible for setting high ethical and professional standards.
Media Council
Emphasis must be placed on utility value of the National Media Council (NMC). This framework is important to harmonise not only relations between government and media establishments, but to ensure more collaboration, rather than discord, between the competing media houses.
Of great value to the nation is to regulate, monitor and possibly discipline media houses and actors as would best guarantee the good image of Nigeria at home and abroad.
Media Security
The links between the media and national security (National Defence) are often undervalued. Government shall re-orient the media on appropriate reporting of classified and sensitive security and defence matters. Similarly, extreme sensationalism of violent situations in the country must be controlled to avoid conflict escalation. The media should be a partner of government towards peace and conflict resolution.
Equally vital is that the media should employ systematic research methods to assist the nation with intentions, actions or inactions which may either promote national security, or undermine it. Their will be a Media Intelligence Unit to liaise with the National Intelligence apparatchik for greater national security.
Our vision is to make the media a part of national security without undermining the freedom of the press.
Part 2
1. To realize these, we shall establish a national commission for roads development somewhat similar to the DFRRI of the Babangida era though with a different management structure, philosophy and scope. This commission which shall be made up of professional/specialists in all aspects/dimensions of road construction and development shall report directly to the president
2. Additionally, our massive in road construction shall be accompanied by similar increased investment in construction and development of additional seaports and airports to help decongest the existing ones to enhance free movement of people, as well as goods and services and hence improve general economic activities throughout the country.
3. We shall also introduce a more transparent, honest and corrupt-free system of contract award.
In all, our administration, through a number of ways shall encourage private sector participation in all aspect/dimension of infrastructural development.
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
Our government shall take special interest in transport matters and the entire sub-sector by investing very heavily to ensure proper and balanced development of the sub-sector. Our commitment in this direction is predicated on two important reasons - economic and socio-political.
1. Economic Reasons: It is our belief that improvement of our transport system will bring about more efficient and equitable distribution of goods and services from the point of manufacture to the final consumers. In this way, the overall economic activities including expansion of markets throughout the country shall be enhanced thereby bringing about general exponential economic growth and development.
2. National Integration: It is common knowledge that the improvement of the transport system throughout the country, which will further enhance human mobility, will enhance both the rapidity and frequency of interaction among citizens with diverse cultures and traditions. This will promote better understanding among them thereby promoting national integration and unity.
In effect therefore, it is the commitment of our government to develop our transport system as a vital strategy to achieve economic development and national integration of the Nigerian society.
Pursuant to this, our government shall among other things:
1. Establish a modern rail transportation system by revitalizing, reorganizing and expanding the existing system as well as introducing modern rail transportation facilities and infrastructure.
2. Re-organising and revitalizing the Federal Urban Mass Transit Authority through increased funding and improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the authority by cutting down on bureaucracy and red-tapism.
3. Re-organisation and revitalization of the inland waterways/transport system. This, we shall achieve via:
i. Dredging of the country's inland waterways thereby making them navigable all year round.
ii. Purchasing and introducing more watercraft and other vital inputs.
iii. Encouraging more private-sector participation either wholly on their own or in partnership with the various tiers of government.
COMMUNICATIONS
Our government, within the first eighteen months of assumption of office, shall digitalize and double the total number of telephone and telegraphic lines in the country.
We shall encourage more private sector participation but without jeorpadising National Security. Our long-term objective is to make more telephone lines easily available and affordable to more Nigerians while at the same time guaranteeing optimum profits for the private investors in the industry.
We shall also strengthen the existing regulatory institutions in the communications industry as well as cut down on bureaucracy thereby making them more efficient and effective. Our administration shall anchor its society on modern communications systems.
WOMEN AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
Over half of Nigeria's population is made up of women most of whom, through sheer hard work, have attained very enviable positions in the society. But, inspite of this, including their attainment of very high stature in the society, it is disheartening to note that they have not been accorded commensurate recognition. This is so evident in the fact that they are denied their rightful position in the scheme of things in the economic, political, and social spheres of human endeavor simply because of their gender. In other words, women in Nigeria have been seriously discriminated against and hence, marginalized. Thus for example, they (women) are scarcely appointed into top positions of authority in government including the civil, services and other national bureaucracies of authoritative decision-making including the armed forces, the police. In places where some are appointed, their numbers are too insignificant inspite of their huge population.
Our administration, on coming into office, shall change this trend and create an enabling environment where all citizens, including women, will have equal opportunity to aspire to any position of authority in all spheres of human endeavor, including important positions of police/decision making.
Our administration shall introduce radical laws and programmes which shall uplift women from their present marginalized position, and insure that they, as full-fledged citizens like their male counterparts, enjoy all the rights and privileges enshrined in the constitution especially as contained in chapter four - (Fundamental Rights) as well as in chapter two - (Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy) of our constitution.
To achieve our progressive agenda towards women, our government will among others, do the following:
1. We shall immediately take steps to strengthen the Ministry of Women Affairs to be more focused in planning, articulating, implementing and monitoring all initiatives designed to more effectively integrate our women folk into the mainstream of our national life.
2. Immediate steps shall be taken to examine all laws in our statue books, with particular reference to inheritance, widowhood and taxation and immediately repeal or amend the offensive ones.
3. We shall also take immediate steps to remove all economic, cultural and psychological obstacles to the education of women/ girl child.
4. We shall also institute programme of enlightenment to re-orient the attitudes and prejudices of the whole society towards women.
5. In addition, our administration shall introduce new special women empowerment programmes as well as improve and expand those already in existence. Such women's programme include:
a. Income generation programmes
b. Entrepreneurial and other related skills acquisition programmes
c. Programmes for women education
d. Programmes on health.
In all, our administration shall, on assumption of office, come up with a sound national policy on women that shall have the central objective of improving the lots of women by not only integrating them into the mainstream of our national life, but also by empowering the women via education.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
The youths are the leaders of tomorrow. But for the youths of any society to meaningfully assume such leadership, they must be made ready for that purpose. This is particularly important because any failure on the part of current leaders to prepare the youths for future leadership of the society will inevitably lead to the death of that society shortly after the demise of a current leadership. Our agenda for youth empowerment, which we shall set in motion immediately on assumption of office, will involve the following:
1. The establishment of youth development action strategies-
a. Work and Study Programme: This is designed primarily for those businessmen who are illiterate to enable them acquire education up to secondary level.
b. Leadership training programmes: This is to enable the outstanding youths imbibe leadership tenets as well as develop their innate potentials.
c. Expansion of the existing skill acquisition centres
2. The establishment of empowerment strategies
a. Micro-credit facilities
b. Organising and mobilizing the youths into certain economic cooperative societies.
c. Establishment of farm settlements which will open-up economic space to expand economic opportunities.
MEDIA POLICY
Media policy goes beyond information and communication to include the security and defense goals of a nation. The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that the mass media shall be free at all times to uphold the fundamental objectives enunciated In the Constitution itself, and to highlight the accountability of the government to the people. This provision flows from the recognition that a free press is indispensable to good government.
Accordingly, laws that are inconsistent with the mandate conferred on the press by the Constitution will be removed from the statute books, but without prejudice to the reputation and privacy of citizens, and to the security of the nation.
Since secrecy perpetuates bureaucratic error, government business will be conducted in a spirit of openness, and the media will enjoy access to information not classified. The classification system will be reviewed to ensure that only highly sensitive material, unauthorized disclosure of which could undermine security, will be classified.
New is a form of knowledge, and the mass media are a pivotal part of the consciousness industry. No special tax should be placed on the acquisition of knowledge. Nor should the operations of the media be governed by laws not generally applicable to other businesses.
Accordingly, material required for mass media operations will be treated as educational material and exempted from duties and tariffs. Laws constraining the operations of the media, such as those relating to licensing posting of bonds and sureties, etc, will be reviewed.
At the same time, to ensure that the review does not lead to a fall in standards, The Press Council will be well funded so that it can handle complaint against the Press speedily and effectively.
The opening up of the electronic media to private ownership will continue apace. The regulatory agencies will be responsible for setting high ethical and professional standards.
Media Council
Emphasis must be placed on utility value of the National Media Council (NMC). This framework is important to harmonise not only relations between government and media establishments, but to ensure more collaboration, rather than discord, between the competing media houses.
Of great value to the nation is to regulate, monitor and possibly discipline media houses and actors as would best guarantee the good image of Nigeria at home and abroad.
Media Security
The links between the media and national security (National Defence) are often undervalued. Government shall re-orient the media on appropriate reporting of classified and sensitive security and defence matters. Similarly, extreme sensationalism of violent situations in the country must be controlled to avoid conflict escalation. The media should be a partner of government towards peace and conflict resolution.
Equally vital is that the media should employ systematic research methods to assist the nation with intentions, actions or inactions which may either promote national security, or undermine it. Their will be a Media Intelligence Unit to liaise with the National Intelligence apparatchik for greater national security.
Our vision is to make the media a part of national security without undermining the freedom of the press.