Continued from yesterday’s Viewpoints

IT states that:

1)We subscribe to the new National ideology, which is to build a truly great African democratic country, politically united and targeted at creating a stable economically prosperous, socially organised, with equal opportunity for all and responsibility from all to become the catalyst for black Renaissance, and making adequate all-embracing contribution sub-regionally, regionally and globally.

2)We adopt the new orientation as an agenda for dealing with immediate and future issues of governance of Nigeria: Removing impediment to efficiency and execution of programmes initiated by the Federal Government, and Expeditors by actualisation of Government objectives and vision of national renewal and reconstruction.

3)We rededicate ourselves and those who serve under us to the value of patriotism, honesty, hard work, and diligence, merit and excellence, trust worthiness, personal discipline, tolerance and mutual respect, justice and fairness, love, care and compassion.

4)We pledge to eschew corruption, slothfulness, nepotism, indiscipline, bitterness, prejudice and other manifestation of antisocial behaviour.

5)We shall undertake critical review of the practices and procedures in every department of Government, so as to rapidly increase the productivity and service delivery to the public.

6)We shall foster a culture of efficiency in the Management of funds and other resources, maintaining high standards of resources, management and reducing waste at all times.

7)We shall efficiently supervise all government departments and agencies, ensuring timely reports and returns, and undertaking regular spot-checking.

8)We shall abide by the terms of the code of conduct which we all have signed, as expression of our commitment to the crusade against corruption and working closely with all relevant agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Public Complaints Commission, etc.

9)We undertake to strengthen the partnership in working with the private sector, since this partnership translates to a better appreciation of the wealth creating capacity of this sector, and the need for Government, through its various Ministries and legislative processes, to create an enabling environment for the sector to function efficiently as the major driver of the economy.

10)We shall strive to strengthen and inculcate the culture of working closely and in consultation with the leadership of labour and societal organisations.

11)We shall mobilise, evolve and promote the interest of all stake holders, namely, the society in general; since, in the ultimate all decisions and actions of government are aimed at the promotion of public welfare, there is also the need for a new attitude that has that welfare permanently in focus, as the only goal, and the economic well-being of all citizens, under unfettered freedom, is of cardinal importance and we shall design strategies and techniques of implementation for the New Orientation so as to ensure that the values being inculcated are ingrained in the citizenry at large.

The constitution of Panels, Tribunals and other investigating bodies to probe Corporations and individuals must be circumspectively kept select. They must ensure that the persons constituting the Tribunals and Panels are not sent on witch hunting escapades and a vendetta mission. Buhari must ensure that his much vaunted political agenda of massively reducing unemployment rate and poverty in Nigeria are vigorously pursued and the drive to spread the provision of amenities to the poor is given top priority.

There must be aggressive pursuit of industrialisation and agricultural revolution that will grossly alleviate poverty in Nigeria. We must be encouraged to shun ostentatious consumption. We must ensure there are checks and balances in the society at large to ensure that a man’s income is commensurate with his properties. Unexplained wealth must be investigated.

There must be massive and colossal mobilisation of Nigerians at all levels to imbibe the mantra of the war against corruption in Nigeria. There must be no sacred cows and all hands must be on deck to ensure that the sledge hammer to remove corruption from all nooks and crannies in Nigeria are unsparingly applied with soldierly brevity. It is not an easy road to tread, but we must make the move to sanitise and rid Nigeria of prebendalistic graft. The Judiciary and the Press have a monumental role to play in this tortuous and adventurous journey.

Mr. Bobson Gbinije, a social critic, wrote from Warri, Delta State.