THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARYOF PART 1 OF THE MID-TERM REPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA (2011 – 2013)…taking stock, moving forward

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INTRODUCTION

The administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan came into being in May 2011. At the second year the administration considers it appropriate to render an account of its activities to the nation. This report therefore highlights the achievements of this government in advancing the rule of law, democracy and development in Nigeria.

The rendering of this report is part of the process this administration has put in place to entrench accountable governance. This Administration believes that without accountability, propaganda will dominate the political space and therefore blur the distinction between political campaign and governance performance.

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INTRODUCTION (CONT.)

This report presents the verifiable performance index for the Jonathan Administration. We make bold to say that in two years the government has protected the rights of the citizens, promoted sustainable development and guaranteed the integrity of state institutions.

Nigeria operates a system of presidential democracy. To properly assess the democracy quotient of every model of governance, we need an expansive concept of democracy. The definition of democracy by former OAU Secretary-General, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, is very illuminating: In his words:

“In essence, democratic governance refers to a political socio-economic framework in which every individual and every community becomes an equal member of society, and is provided with a space of engagement in shaping the destiny of society”……

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INTRODUCTION (CONT.)

He continued that: “It is a totality that encompasses the political, social and economic domains in a mutually reinforcing and symbolic nature. It is a dynamic process that is nurtured and enriched with the growth and evolution of a society. I need to also point out in this regard that democratic governance is not only a relationship within society. At this second level, it underscores such virtues as tolerance, dialogue, and understanding, social integration, gender equality, abidance to norms, respect for fundamental rights, and adherence to the rule of law and negation to corruption’’.

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INTRODUCTION (CONT.)

After 13 years of unbroken democratic governance in Nigeria, there is

the need to bench mark our successes and challenges with a view to

making faster progress and also make amends where needed. This

revaluation will help to refocus our concept of democracy; re-

establish the fundamentals and re-emphasize the need not only

to preserve democracy but to deepen it.

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JONATHAN’S MODEL OF LEADERSHIP

Jonathan’s Model

of Leadership

From the definition of democracy above we can distinguish between two components of democracy, the fundamentals of democracy and the incidentals to democracy. Fundamentals of democracy are those elements that make up the substance of democracy.

This report considers them to be the pillars of democracy without which the taste of democracy is lost.

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JONATHAN’S MODEL OF LEADERSHIP (CONT.)

The fundamental (which include personal liberties, popular participation, respect for the individuals’ rights, provision of equal opportunities, majority rule and minority rights, etc) principles of democracy find expression in basic human freedoms. Protection and enjoyment of these freedoms guarantees human worth which inspires the confidence to not only to aim at the optimum in life but also the agility to protest and defend abuses of personal rights and social interest.

The incidentals to democracy are what in this clime popularly referred to as democracy dividends, which in ordinary language means the good products of democracy. It is important to emphasize that this product of democracy can only be good if it is indeed, a product of free society with popular participation. It must not only be verifiable, but also, subject to accountable satisfaction of the populace.

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DEMOCRACY: JONATHAN’S MODEL OF LEADERSHIP (CONT.)

The policy thrust of this administration therefore is not only to deliver democracy dividends but to make it good in accordance with the best principles of democracy. This explains the emphasis on consultation and dialogue, process and procedure, clear and need-driven projects conception, open and competitive procurement process, equitable distribution of social amenities, diligent planning and execution strategies, checks and balances, rule of law; and extensive expansion of civil space together with respect for citizens’ right among others.

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DEMOCRACY: JONATHAN’S MODEL OF LEADERSHIP (CONT.)

We are quick to add that the process of democratization demands a lot of restraints, patience and at times pains. We are proud to explain the Mr. President’s uncommon restraint at the face of many challenges is a manifestation of a great desire to deepen democratic culture in all aspects of our national life.

The report in this chapter on Governance will give a summary account of the Administration’s strides in advancing democratic culture with the consequential delivery of good dividends under the following headings:

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EXPANDING CIVIC SPACE

In the last two years, the civic space has been expanded for democracy and civic participation. We are convinced that civic consciousness is a lubricant to democracy. This has given rise to unprecedented growth in the number of civil society groups in Nigeria.

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EXPANDING CIVIC SPACE (CONT.)

These groups are not only active in advocating for civil rights but sometimes actually engage themselves into political activism. Such examples include Save Nigeria Group, Occupy Nigeria, Corruption Watch and others of whom take on Government at the slightest opportunity; for example, was the involvement of Save Nigeria Group in the fuel subsidy removal protests that was ab initio - a labour-led protest.

On Sept. 6th, 2012 Mr. President hosted Civil Society Organizations to a Presidential Retreat. It was an open forum for members to express their views before Mr. President on the on-going constitutional review and other matters of interest. Over three hundred groups attended the retreat, and voted on a number of national issues. This has never happened before. It created a sense of participation in the constitutional review process, therefore the willingness of the Federal Government to give civil society a prime role was a pleasant one.

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EXPANDING CIVIC SPACE (CONT.)

During this period under review, the Federal Government has conceded to the demands of the people in a manner previously unprecedented. Not only that, it has reversed some decisions based on the complaints and suggestions of the people. Remarkably, trade disputes are now, more than ever before, resolved through dialogue. Pro-poor and Gender empowerment issues now take centre stage. Within the period, more than ever before, we have witnessed more opportunities for both men and women. There are presently 13 female ministers and 26 female Special Advisers/SSAPs/SAPs playing critical and uncommon roles in the Government.

Flowing from the above, we have recorded the following outcomes:

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OUTCOME

• A high sense of freedom has arisen among the citizens.

• Citizens are now bolder and more assertive,

• High sense of participation in issues of governance has been awakened among the citizens.

• Governance issues are now more freely and openly discussed without any fear,

• Opposition parties and groups enjoy total liberty, as a result they are now more confident and stronger, thereby making the political space more competitive, democratic and reflective of every shade of opinion.

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OUTCOME (CONT.)

• Citizens are more confident and freely resort to court in defense of their rights, etc.

• Press freedom has been entrenched and greatly expanded, with the Nigeria Press being regarded by most people as the freest in Africa.

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ENTRENCHING CHECKS AND BALANCES

The essence of separation of powers is to ensure the balance of power among the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary. In a presidential democracy like ours, the powers of each arm is enormous, more particularly the powers of the executive. Our democratic history is dotted with black spots where the exercise of certain powers by any of the arms of government has frustrated progressive governance and indeed endangered democracy.

For this reason, President Jonathan’s administration has committed to ensuring stability of the system by strengthening the independence of each arm of government, through non interference with affairs peculiar to them, perfecting and diligently enhancing their fiscal independence, improving consultation among them in matters of national interests, involving them reasonably in executive actions and unprecedented avoidance of high handedness among others. This has yielded some democracy dividend within the three arms of Government.

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OUTCOMEAt the Executive Arm

• Enhanced commitment to due process and rule of law• Total absence of disobedience to court process/judgments• A growing cordiality among the three arms of government.• Public interest takes preeminence • Dialogue and conciliation is fast gaining ground as the best

way towards national consensus • The culture of consultation is fast becoming the norm• Industrial stability as a result of a more hands-on approach

to labour issues etc.

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OUTCOMEAt the Legislative Arm

• A more assertive legislative practice,• Stability in the leadership of the legislature,• Stable funding of legislative activities,• Enhanced oversight activities,• Enhanced public hearings on all matters of public

interests,• More public confidence in the ability of the legislature

to intervene in matters arising from the exercise of executive actions,

• More diligent legislative works and process

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OUTCOMEAt the Judicial Arm

• Judicial activities have risen to greater prominence,• More assertive Judiciary,• Citizens are more confident in the Judiciary,• Greater acceptance of Judicial pronouncements as fair

Justice• A more active Nigerian Judicial Council indicating more

ability of the Judiciary to discipline itself etc.

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ELECTORAL PROGRESSAdvancing Democracy

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ELECTORAL PROGRESS (CONT.)

The right to vote and be voted for has been described as the bastion of democracy. For this right to be meaningful the citizens must have the confidence that votes must count and the electoral process must be credible enough to encourage citizens to present themselves for election. The most critical aspiration of democracy is to secure for the people the right to choose their government through a credible electoral system.

President Jonathan on assumption of office as acting President committed to execute to the letter, the electoral reforms which his predecessor started. In addition to a holistic implementation of the Justice Uwais Committee recommendations, President Jonathan introduced the campaign for one man, one vote, one woman, one vote, one girl, one vote and one boy, one vote.

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ELECTORAL PROGRESS (CONT.)

He announced publicly that nobody should rig election for him. In order to convince the doubting Thomas’s who never believed that that will be possible in Nigeria, he appointed Prof. Attahiru Jega, a renowned unionist and civil liberties advocate as the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Furthermore, he declared to Nigerians that he was appointing Professor Jega based on the Professor’s reputation, and that he had never met him.Additionally, the Independent National Electoral Commission has enjoyed adequate funding for their activities, unprecedented autonomy and independence of actions.

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ELECTORAL PROGRESS (CONT.) OUT COME

• The country witnessed the most credible elections in 2011• Voters turn out dramatically improved as a result of

citizen’s confidence in the electoral system• The international community acknowledged that the 2011

elections were the freest and fairest in Nigerian history• The electoral process has continued to improve since

2011; giving rise to more and generally accepted electoral outcomes from INEC conducted the gubernatorial elections in Kebbi and Ondo States in 2012; and Edo State in 2013. In the Ondo and Edo States, opposition parties defeated the ruling party.

• More permanent electoral infrastructure are now being put in place e.g. permanent voters cards and registers

• Better and diligent planning and execution of elections is now more appreciated

• As a result of effective policing of elections, thuggery and ballot box snatching has become almost extinct.

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ELECTORAL PROGRESS (CONT.) OUT COME

• INEC decisions are now being respected by all stakeholders in the discharge of its regulatory role over political parties etc.

• Issue based campaigns and diligent commitment to the consciousness that vote counts are beginning to bench mark our political commitments

• As a regulator, INEC decisions are now being respected by all political parties etc.

• Issue based campaigns and diligent commitment to the consciousness that vote counts are beginning to bench mark our political commitments

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FEDERAL CHARACTER

The principle of Federal Character in the management of public affairs has become the strongest string that holds the nation together. This became a critical issue during the 1978 Constituent Assembly deliberations and was elevated as a major condition for the unity of the nation. That conference recommended the institutionalization of the Federal Character principles in the constitution. However, the then military Government only provided for it as part of the fundamental objective principle of state policy and went ahead to enact the Federal Character Act to superintend the implementation of the principle in the public service of the Federation.

Federal Character principle recognizes that the country is multi-ethnic and greatly diverse in many ways and so necessary to give each section a sense of belonging in Resource allocation and the distribution of Federal positions in the public service of the Federation.

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FEDERAL CHARACTER (CONT)

This diversity must be taken into account. It is expected that by so doing ethnic domination or fears of same, which purportedly triggered off national crises in the past will be avoided. It is also believed that the diligent application of the principle will help all sections of the country achieve parity in growth and development. On assumption of office, it was discovered that many agitation and cries of marginalization have arisen as a result of disregard to the Federal Character principle in most federal appointments and project allocations. It was also discovered that these among others have contributed to budgeting turbulence in the National Assembly.

Consequently, the latest appointments to major federal positions have been carefully carried out to correct outstanding imbalances. This has not been easy and has led to delays in filling certain vacant positions as efforts are made to weigh in the balance such decisions.

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FEDERAL CHARACTER (CONT)

Our efforts in the last two years have yielded some result but much is yet to be achieved.

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SUMMARY OF APPOINTEES PER STATE

S/No. State No. of Appointee

1 Abia 16

2 Adamawa 20

3 Akwa Ibom 12

4 Anambra 25

5 Bauchi 14

6 Bayelsa 17

7 Benue 19

8 Borno 14

9 Cross River 11

10 Delta 27

11 Ebonyi 6

12 Edo 23

13 Ekiti 10

14 Enugu 13

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15 FCT 4

16 Gombe 13

17 Imo 20

18 Jigawa 9

19 Kaduna 21

20 Kano 20

21 Katsina 21

22 Kebbi 14

23 Kogi 26

24 Kwara 22

25 Lagos 8

26 Nassarawa 10

27 Niger 11

28 Ogun 22

29 Ondo 14

SUMMARY OF APPOINTEES PER STATEAdvancing Democracy

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SUMMARY OF APPOINTEES PER STATE

30 Osun 24

31 Oyo 10

32 Plateau 12

33 Rivers 16

34 Sokoto 7

35 Taraba 6

36 Yobe 9

37 Zamfara 5

Grand Total 551

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Also in the allocation of federal projects, this administration met gross imbalance. However, the determination to give each geo-political zone a sense of belonging has been the driving force behind the efforts in the last two years. In striving to achieve parity, consideration is paid to peculiar needs of each zone.

OUTCOME• Confidence is building in each geo-political zone that it

does not matter where the President comes from, that adherence to the rule of law and the principle of federal character guarantees sense of belonging.

• Zones that had felt marginalized in the past now have a greater sense of belonging.

• There is more awareness that Governments can be held accountable if they subvert the Federal Character principle.  

SUMMARY OF APPOINTEES PER STATEAdvancing Democracy

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CORRUPTION

This Government wholly asserts that Corruption is unacceptable and should be shunned because of its negative effects on our socio-economic development. There have been several efforts to curb corruption in the past. However, we have discovered that the usual emphasis on the “hunter’s approach”, has secured very limited results. This Administration decided to follow a deliberate strategy with the following components:-

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CORRUPTION (CONT.)

• eliminate as practicable as possible, all opportunities for Corruption by: improving Process, Transparency, and Accountability in government procurement. Equally significant is the increasing emphasis on Public Private Partnership approach as a way of reducing opportunities for corrupt practice. 

• Improvement on Investigation and Prosecution mechanisms by: - strengthening all anti-corruption agencies through training, better funding and non interference in their activities.  

• Collaboration among the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary to accelerate the dispensation of justice especially in cases involving corruption. In cases like Fuel Subsidy probe and Pension Funds probe the Federal Government built on the initial reports from the Legislature and moved aggressively to expose and prosecute those found culpable. The effort is ongoing and we will not stop until culpable individuals or groups are brought to book.

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CORRUPTION (CONT.)

• Improving funding and capacity building to ensure independence of the Judiciary and inspire confidence in all law enforcement agencies. This has led to a judiciary that now demands the highest level of integrity from judges especially as regards those handling high-profile public-interest cases. In recent times there has been severe punishment for those found wanting.

• Enhancement of complimentarity among the Anti -corruption agencies i.e. ICPC, EFCC and Code of Conduct Bureau. This has enhanced information sharing and reduction in duplication of efforts in dealing with any particular matter.

• A more assertive National Assembly in discharging its oversight functions especially in investigations and public hearing on wide range of cases.

• The Freedom of Information Act is in place and can be used as an effective check against the abuse of power.

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CORRUPTION (CONT.)

• The increasing use of e-platforms for government business is mean to promote efficiency and eliminate choke points that service corruption in government. The use of electronic purse for distribution of fertilizer is a radical change from the inefficient middle-man dominated methods of the past.

OUTCOME:• A more strategic and institutional fight against corruption

by using improved systems and processes had resulted in greater service delivery to the people and value for money for government expenditure,

• The improvement in our economic outlook is partially as a result of the easing of bottlenecks and reduction of corrupt practices in governance.

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CORRUPTION (CONT.)

• Nigerians can expect a steady improvement in the national and international perception of Nigeria on issues of corruption,

• A more rules-driven fight against corruption.• It has become clear to many that no matter how long it

takes that offenders will face the music,• Reported incidents of corruption are on the decline.

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SECURITY

Government accepts that security of life and property of the citizen is its primary obligation and an essential condition for sustaining our national development. That is why this administration has been firm in its approach to the key security challenges of the nation. It is therefore heart-warming that we have diligently proceeded with the Amnesty Programme. It is a reasonable success and as a result, the Niger Delta Region is reasonably calm save for the occasional flashes that one expects after more than a decade of crisis.

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SECURITY (CONT.)

In South West and some parts of the North, the security situation has been stable because of success of the following strategies:-• Improved training, equipping and motivation of the security

forces.• Swift and decisive deployment of operatives and personnel

to trouble spots.• Better policing and information gathering.• Heightened public awareness and co-operation especially

for intelligence gathering and communal vigilance.

However, the situation in some other parts of the country was unprecedented. We experienced a wave of kidnapping and terror that no Nigerian could have contemplated some few years ago. The training and orientation of most of our agencies had being to defend the integrity of the nation from external threats and unpatriotic elements.

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SECURITY (CONT.)

No one had ever budgeted for suicidal and anti social acts like kidnapping which was totally unknown to our valued system, our cultures and worldview. Indeed, when for instance it was first said that a Nigerian was involved in a plot to bomb a US-bound aircraft on Christmas Day 2009, Nigerians were in total shock and outrage.

The new reality is that some misguided ones amongst us are in league with foreign mercenaries to commit acts of terror while others are driven by greed to the abominable acts of kidnapping and other acts of banditry.

• This requires that Government redesigns the entire security architecture and the orientation and training of its operators. In the interim we have had to bring in the military more and more into internal operations. This has produced very noticeable results in Aba and other parts of the South East zone. In doing this, we have taken utmost care to ensure that the rights of innocents citizens are always protected.

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SECURITY (CONT.)

• In the north, no one ever imagined that some misguided elements would join hands with mercenaries and take up arms against the nation. For months, the Government, leaders, elders and all people of goodwill have pleaded with these elements and their instigators to see reason. Even as I speak, the door remains open for any peaceful and honourable method to disarm, and re-orientate and rehabilitate this group.

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SECURITY (CONT.)

We are therefore faced with their persistent carnage against fellow Nigerians, the continuing dislocation of the lives of other citizens and treasonable threats to the territorial integrity of the nation.

Government has had to reinforce the security personnel of the Joint Task Force in areas under the threat of these hardened elements. We ultimately, declared State of Emergency in three States in the North-East of Nigeria. This act was in response to brazen challenges of the authority of state and in order to protect lives and property of Nigerians, as well as the territorial integrity of the country, Government has continued to protect the rights of all abiding citizens in these areas and is gratified by the wide support its actions have received at home and from abroad.

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SECURITY (CONT.)

• The Amnesty Programme is working and the Niger Delta is relatively calm.

• Kidnapping has drastically reduced in affected parts the South East and South South zones, places like Aba and others have returned to normalcy.

• The Civil populace are once again secure • Civil rights are protected and respected; and when they

are infringed upon, it is promptly addressed. • Insurgency is being contained, and will soon be a thing of

the past.

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CONCLUSION:

President Jonathan’s leadership style is not just about symbolism. It is about substance. As the report shows this government in two years has established a sustainable framework for economic development. Its fiscal and monetary policies have incentivized the private sector to invest in the critical infrastructure that will help grow the economy and increase household income. The President is rebuilding the political, social and economic infrastructure of the nation. He has sustained faith in democracy and therefore, secured the future of democracy in Nigeria. He has repaired the broken bridges and indeed is the face of hope, for a Nigeria that is stable, prosperous and peaceful. 

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