General Sani Abacha Independence Day Address - October 1, 1996
Fellow Nigerians,
I AM happy to address you on this important occasion
of the 36th Anniversary of our political independence
which marks the beginning of a glorious era. I seize
this opportunity to salute the memory of our founding
fathers who endured all hardship to bequeath to us a
prosperous and resilient nation.
This year's independent anniversary is coming at a
time of great national transformation. As we continue
to move along the path of success and progress in all
sectors, we should rededicate ourselves to the cause
of our great Nation and attain yet greater heights in
all fields of our National endeavour.
In my National Day Broadcast in October last year I
announced the transition programme leading to a
democratically elected government on 1st October 1998.
The various transition institutions were accordingly
established and commenced work within the terms of
reference given to them. I am happy to state that
considerable measure of success has been recorded
since my last National Day Broadcast. At the same
time, I announced our commitment towards achieving
economic stability and progress, which are basic for
the political and social stability of our nation.
Following the remarkable success of the operation of
the 1995 budget and the economic reforms of the same
year we launched the budget of consolidation in 1996.
We considered it necessary to consolidate on our gains
of the previous year and move our nation forward. I am
happy to state that the Mid-year budget report and
independent assessment of the performance of the
economy in 1986 have shown greater success over that
of the previous year. We have now achieved
considerable economic stability in various sectors and
are in a position to plan ahead for the future.
Having effectively checked all areas of losses and
wastages, we have met all our revenue targets in both
oil and non-oil sectors.
The heavy deficit level, which has adversely affected
the operation of our budget and the performance of our
economy for over a decade now, has been reversed.
While in 1995 we recorded a surplus of N1 billion, our
mid-year review shows prospects for a higher level of
surplus at the end of 1996. We have achieved
macro-economic stability in our exchange rate and
interest rate regime. As a result of all these,
inflation is well under control and it is our hope
that in the not too distant future all other negative
trends in our economic and social lives will be
effectively controlled. In particular government will
put in place the appropriate policy measures meant to
bring down cost of foodstuff, goods and services. In
the meantime I appeal to manufacturers to respond
positively to the various tax incentives and other
policy measures to lower the prices of their goods and
products.
With our political transition programme very well on
course, the prospects for stability, peace and unity
will continue to be greater. The successful conduct of
the local government elections earlier in the year,
formation of political associations and the process of
registration as political parties, administrative
reforms undertaken in the civil service are all
positive signs of bright prospects for our nations.
Vision 2010
Fellow Nigerians, the concept of Vision 2010 is being
adopted at this stage of our development to enable us
appreciate the importance of long term planning in
achieving national self-reliance, economic strength
and political stability. It arose out of our
historical experience of the post-independence era
where successive national plans and strategies for
development were conceived of and executed on
short-term and ad-hoc basis.
Our nation has in the last three decades missed the
opportunities to harness its resources properly,
control areas of wastage and utilise such resources
for development-oriented projects and programmes. We
have also realised that in all that we did the
mobilisation of our population in the rural areas
towards meaningful development has not been
effectively achieved. This state of affairs has led to
a continuous rural-urban drift creating serious
socio-economic problems for our people.
It is our hope, therefore, that a solid foundation for
our progress and success could be achieved within the
framework of Vision 2010. The first step is to
identify where we went wrong and then consolidate our
gains as a nation. Happily, this is the time to do so,
having achieved within the last two years a
substantial level of macro-economic stability, unity
and peace. This is a period of stocktaking, a period
to get the correct bearing for our nation, a period
during which all hands should be on deck.
We should prevent a reversal of our major gains while
exploring new grounds that should launch our nation
successfully into the twenty-first century. The
prospects for success are brighter now than ever
before and we must not relent in our efforts. The
future generation of Nigerians would expect from us
this enormous but noble responsibility. It could be
delayed any further. Accordingly, I urge all our
countrymen and women to be part of this nation
building process.
To ensure the success of the Vision 2010, government
has now decided to set up a high powered committee,
headed by Chief Earnest Shonekan, former head of
state, an industrialist of international repute, to
put into clear focus, and channel the course of Vision
2010. The committee, which will be composed of
representatives from all sectors of our economy and
public life, will be charged with the responsibility
for defining for our nation its correct bearing and
realistic sense of direction. It will specifically
examine those aspects of our economy, which should be
developed and strengthened. It will set goals and
appropriate target for our economic growth and social
stability. Our vision should focus on such important
indices as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) literacy
level, employment prospects, agriculture,
industrialisation and development of science and
technology.
Fellow Nigerians, let me re-state the fact that no
nation can grow and develop without its own vision,
its own original ideas, its will and determination to
achieve true independence and sovereignty.
We are not unaware of the social crisis that has
adversely affected the growth and stability of our
nation in the last three decades of the attainment of
our political independence. The problems of
unemployment, crime and poverty, which have affected
our society for some time now, must be addressed on
both short and long-term basis. Already, Government
has taken all the necessary steps to deal with these
problems effectively. The various policy measures
introduced in the last two years are meant to tackle
such problems. The various projects being implemented
under the Petroleum Trust Fund, and the National
Ruling Plan will have a long-term stabilizing effect
on the social sector in particular, and on the nation
in general.
Fellow Nigerians, in realisation of the problems that
have brought about economic recession and instability
in our country, this administration introduced some
far-reaching measures to sanitize the system and
instill some discipline in the operation of the
economy and public service management. Already, the
Failed Banks Decree, which has come into effect, has
sent positive signals for recovery and sanitization in
that sector. This policy will be maintained and
further extended to other sectors with similar
problems. The Failed Parastatals Decree will come into
effect before the end of the year. As I have always
stated positive growth and development of our economy
cannot be achieved without a serious restructuring and
sanitization of the system that supports our
socio-economic and political development.
Fellow Nigerians, the perennial problem in our
educational sector has been a major cause for concern
to this administration. The crisis in the sector
covers all segments of our educational system, from
the primary to the tertiary levels. We do realise that
the crisis arose out of the cumulative effect of
several negative forces both from within and outside
the sector. Their solution therefore has to be gradual
but effective and long lasting. Accordingly,
government has decided to set up a high powered
committee consisting of eminent professionals in the
field and other well meaning Nigerians to examine the
problems that have retarded our educational growth and
proffer solutions for the restoration of normalcy to
our national education system.
The committee will be charged with the responsibility
of closely examining all parts and present policies of
education and to identify the areas of major
constraints. Their focus will be the improvement of
quality of education; the relevance of our various
educational programmes and the structures already put
in place to manage our educational system.
Let me convey Government's appreciation to all well
meaning Nigerians who have shown their concern and
interest in our educational sector and who have
contributed in many ways to the effort in restoring
normalcy to the system. I commend the effort and
concern of the committee of elders and traditional
rulers on the issue of education in particular and all
other matters of National interest.
Editor's Comment:
This document was initially labelled as Speech by General Babangida but the
speech was actually by General Abacha. Apologies for any inconveniences.
