National Social Contract Initiatives (NSCI) has congratulated Nigerians and the Federal Government on the occasion of the Democracy Day celebration.
This year’s celebration marks the country’s 15 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, expressing delight that the country has recorded great improvements in the entrenchment of rule of law and protection of the fundamental human rights of her citizens which were subject of abuse under long years of military rule.
In particular, the group noted that Jonathan administration has within this period deepened democracy by promoting cherished democratic values like freedom of speech and association as well as the promotion of the rule of law. The alleged use of anti graft agencies to persecute perceived enemies of the state or politically exposed persons has become a thing of the past.
A statement issued by Onazi Adadu Onazi, reads further “As the nation marks this day, we cannot but applaud President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda which has helped in no small measure to raise the bar in areas of democracy dividends especially on the performance of the nation’s economy and other democracy deliverables.
“More than ever before, the agricultural sector has witnessed a great revolution, thus creating massive employment for the teeming unemployed youths through the dry and wet season farming.
“The Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) has turned around the nation’s fortunes in agriculture. The policy is focused on increased food production to reduce food imports as well create over 3.5 million jobs by 2015. The “farm to fork” value chain is a major revolution set to add value in rice, cassava, and private sector participation in the value chain.
“The NSCI is happy that more than ever before, the executive/legislative relationship has been cordial such that the Presidency no longer meddles in the affairs of the National Assembly, especially in the choice of her leadership. The mutual respect and collaboration between these two tiers of government has led to swiftness in the passage of executive bills and yearly appropriations.
“Other infrastructural development such as the provision of portable drinking water, good health facilities and provision of steady power have witnessed tremendous improvements while the nation’s moribund rail system has been resuscitated as some of the rail lines are already functional and the others about to be completed.
“Water transport is equally experiencing tremendous transformation as the dredging of the River Niger has revived inland water transportation which before now had been comatose.
“In the area of women participation in governance, more women are now in government and contributing their quota for the realization of the President’s Transformation Agenda either through elective or appointive positions. Today, women occupy the two highest and revered positions in the judiciary.
“The Nigerian economy within has witnessed a quantum leap as the economic rebasing has set a trajectory for attracting huge direct foreign investments into the country. With the rebasing, Nigeria has officially become the largest economy in Africa. This is in line with Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda and his desire to make Nigeria one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2020.
“While insurgency and insecurity remain a distraction in the Nigerian polity, we commend the Jonathan administration and the Nigerian Armed Forces for the steps taken so far in fighting terrorism and criminality.
“We urge Nigerians not to despair but remain steadfast in their support for the military and the Federal Government to end terrorism, and criminal acts in the land. It is also gladdening to know that the military is working out strategies on how to undertake the successful release of the over 200 secondary school girls taken hostage by Boko Haram terrorists.
