Speaking at the closing session of the three-day Cabinet Retreat, on Friday in Abuja, the President said that his determination to ensure the active and direct participation of citizens in governance is unwavering, noting that all Nigerians must be given the opportunity to track and report on the implementation of projects across the country.
President Tinubu said he has asked his Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, to immediately reactivate the tracking system in a way that maximally leverages on cutting-edge digital innovation to provide real time oversight capability for the benefit of all Nigerians.
President Tinubu also redefined the priority areas of his administration as:
1. Reform the economy to deliver sustained inclusive growth.
2. Strengthen national security for peace and prosperity.
3. Boost agriculture to achieve food security.
4. Unlock energy and natural resources for sustainable development.
5. Enhance infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth.
6. Focus on education, health, and social investment as essential pillars of development.
7. Accelerate diversification through industrialization, digitization, creative arts, manufacturing & innovation.
8. Improve governance for effective service delivery.
The President further implored all members of his cabinet to work very hard to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
“I want to reiterate that the Renewed Hope Agenda is about more than just economic growth. It is also about building a more just and equitable society for all Nigerians. It is about creating jobs, improving education and healthcare, and reducing poverty. It is about ensuring that all Nigerians have the opportunity to succeed.”
“I know that we have a lot of work ahead of us, but I am confident we can achieve our goals. We have a strong team in place, and we are committed to working together to build a better future for Nigeria.”
“Let me remind you that our people are not interested in excuses, political games, or procrastination. Neither am I. They are interested in tangible results. They seek solutions to the problems that have long plagued our great nation. The challenge before us demands that we must put aside personal ambitions and focus on adhering to the performance bond we have all signed up to on this day. These performance bonds represent a contract we must uphold,” the President said.
The President also emphasized the importance of data in governance, saying: “Data is the lifeblood of effective governance. It enables us to understand the challenges we face so that we can design and implement effective solutions as well as monitor and evaluate our progress. Without data, we are flying blind”.
The climax of the retreat was the signing of performance bonds by Honourable Ministers and Permanent Secretaries alongside President Tinubu, who charged all implementing authorities to unfailingly demonstrate diligence, innovative thinking, commitment, and an unrelenting focus on results.