The President Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda debate came alive last week at the Hallmark Newspapers town hall meeting tagged: Let the Records Speak. Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation was on ground the deliver the opening speech. Akin to his personality, he minced no words in drumming support for the transformation agenda of Mr. President. He enjoined governments at all levels to join the federal government in her quest to transforming the nation.
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim’s name came to the limelight when he was the president of the Nigerian Senate. What made him tick, and what might still remain his endowment is no doubt his quest for service delivery, doggedness and forthrightness. When he was called to be the secretary to the federal government in the Jonathan administration, many people averred that indeed he would bring his base experiences to fore in serving his fatherland. He has lived up to this expectation.
Anyim’s vision for a new Nigeria has come to be in tandem with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s transformation agenda. It is obvious that it is only those with an eagle eye that can appreciate Jonathan’s transformation agenda in Nigeria. One reason is because the current government is restructuring Nigeria’s economy from the micro-perspectives. Before now, Nigeria and Nigerians were used to rushed and unplanned policies which appear very bogus and flamboyant, but lacks sustainability because of the wrong foundation. Those eras have proven to be against the interest of this country.
Anyim last Thursday, during the newspapers’ meeting was equivocal on the need for accountability and transparency in the governance in this country at all levels. For one, the newspaper’s initiative is commendable because making leaders speak their records is the only way they can be result-oriented.
Anyim spoke extensively on the core thrust of the Jonathan administration which is to eliminate poverty and initiate policies to enhance economic development and sustain wealth creation among the people. His emphasis on the leaders in both state and the federal governments to embrace the transformation agenda of the present government is anchored on his belief that the dream of a new Nigeria is being realised. Such policies such as the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme and the new-look Millennium Development Goals are meant to re-energise Nigeria’s private sector to enhance economic development of the country.
Nigeria had for decades now depended on the oil sector which is being coordinated by the federal government. This has made other federating units mere waiters for the federal account allocation. So far, various sectors of Nigeria’s economy are being explored. Ironically oil which has been the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy has proven to be a journey to the doom if the federal government does adopt proactive measures before Nigeria meets its economic waterloo.
The United States recently announced her discovery of oil in commercial quantities. Some developed countries have also resorted to other sources of energy generation aside oil. This is a warning that the Jonathan administration has taken into cognizance. At the last count, other sectors of Nigeria’s economy have begun to constitute over 30% of the nation’s revenue. Hitherto oil constituted 99%. What has shown that there is light at the end of the tunnel is the improvement in the agricultural sector. That sector alone has attracted over N80 billion investments in the last one year.
At the Hallmark newspaper’s ‘Let the records speak’, Anyim called on leaders to ensure the development of rural areas to make them economic viable to enhance wealth creation. His call is timely because rural-urban migration has been on the increase in most cities of Nigeria. The city upsurge contributes to a very large extent to the collapse of public infrastructure due to over usage. According to Anyim, it is only with the realisation of rural economic transformation which is the main focus of the Jonathan administration that Nigeria will experience sporadic economic development which will form the base line for the nation’s economic solid foundation. This is because economic activities will be at their highest ebb in the rural areas.
No doubt a majority of rural areas in the country cannot boast of basic social amenities, such as electricity, water, security and good road networks. This lack makes efforts at the economic development of rural areas virtually futile. Some agricultural potential states, such as Benue, Nasarawa, Ebonyi and Niger have not harnessed the potentialities of their natural endowments in the agricultural sector because of lack of amenities such as storage tanks and good road networks. This singular deficiency frustrates efforts of local farmers and makes the sector unattractive for unemployed youths. However these state governments have keyed into the Jonathan transformation agenda and begun development of their rural areas.
Anyim also acknowledged the high level of unemployment bedevilling Nigeria and specifically mentioned that the federal government is not resting in its oars at ensuring that there are sustaining programmes in place to make Nigeria’s private sector become viable to enhance job and wealth creation.
In his words, “The Hallmark’s ‘Let the records speak’ event is in line with the Jonathan administration’s moves because it offers our leaders the opportunity to give accounts of their stewardship. The dream of President Goodluck Jonathan is to transform Nigeria for the better as soon as possible. I must commend Nigerians for appreciating the efforts of the administration in providing democratic dividends to the people. I must also commend those who offer constructive criticisms because lessons are learnt through them. President Jonathan meticulously plans his programmes to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. This is the first administration in Nigeria that encourages popular participation and consultation.”
The confab by the Hallmark is exactly what this country requires to move forward. What seems lacking in Nigeria is the patriotic zeal and intellectual re-orientation for progress making. The likes of Anyim should always be ready to offer their leadership acumen in driving the development agenda of the Jonathan’s administration home. Without mincing words, the efforts at the federal level can only be realised maximally if state and local governments show the willingness to replicate same.
It is also heart-warming that the state governors who featured at the Hallmark’s have embraced some wealth creation and rural developmental agenda and the results are being felt. The chief servant of Niger state, Dr Babangida Aliyu, for instance, has shown that the only way sustainable development can be achieved is by focusing on the rural areas. One of his approaches is by allowing the local governments in Niger state to be result-oriented with their task of rural development. It is however unfortunate that some state governments have made local government areas a mere appendage of their offices without relevance to the populace. The example of Babangia Aliyu in creating development committees at ward levels is commendable. His prompt release of local government funds and tasking local council chairmen to periodically give accounts of their stewardship is worthy of emulation.
His Benue counterpart Gabriel Suswan, who also gave account of his stewardship, deserves commendation for his efforts in the development of rural areas to encourage wealth creation and reduce rural-urban migration. His policy tagged ‘Our Benue Our Future’ is a reawakening one and has made Benue people believe that economic development starts from homes. The Benue state government is reputed to have constructed rural roads, provided electricity and potable water in rural areas as well as established some water treatment plants to enhance the lives of the people. This is worthwhile because a sick population can never be productive.
Anyim also stressed the need for massive education development. The federal government has shown a total commitment in this sector through the encouragement it has given to the Universal Basic Education programme and also building of Almajiri schools in the northern parts of the country. Anyim’s challenge on governments at all levels to embrace education as a sure way to eradicate poverty and even fight anti-social activities comes at no better time than now because illiteracy begets criminality.
That is why efforts of the Kano state government in the education sector are fantastic. Its policy in feeding of pupils, massive construction of classrooms and encouraging teachers in the state to improve upon their knowledge is a step in the right direction.
The efforts of the Jonathan administration in the sectors of agriculture, works, education, security among others are what Nigeria requires and the technocratic know-how of Senator Anyim Pius Anyim in the realisation of these laudable goals will continue to be among the livewire in the transformation agenda of the president.
Ume wrote in through umejames12@yahoo.com