THE President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has assured Nigerians that adequate measures had been put in place by the legislative and executive arms of government to ensure the country’s early exit from economic recession in the New Year.
Lawan gave the assurance in his New Year message to Nigerians, which was released to journalists in Abuja on Thursday.
He lamented that the COVID-19 pandemic caused the country to experience another economic recession in 2020 shortly after it recovered from a similar one.
He, however, said fiscal policies and legislation jointly put in place by the executive and the legislative arms of government would soon make the recession a thing of the past.
He said, “We believe that allowing the implementation of this outstanding capital component of the 2020 budget to run concurrently with the 2021 budget will inject more funds to the economy.
“Also on our priority list in 2021 is the amendment to the 1999 Constitution, which is the grundnorm (basic norm) of our being together as a nation. The process, which started in 2020, requires extensive consultations and the buy in of everybody.”
Remain hopeful, Gbajabiamila, Wase urge Nigerians
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, have congratulated Nigerians for witnessing the New Year 2021 despite the challenges faced in 2020.
Both Gbajabiamila and Wase, in separate statements issued on Thursday, urged Nigerians to remain hopeful for a better country, while urging them to pray for their leaders.
The New Year message issued by the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, was titled ‘New Year: Let’s keep hope alive, remain positive, Gbajabiamila urges Nigerians.’
The Speaker said, “In this New Year, let us remain resolute and determined in our nationhood. Yes, we may be going through challenges as a nation but with our collective determination, we shall overcome.”
Wase, in the statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Puma, also urged Nigerians not to despair in spite of the challenges bedevilling the country.
In the statement titled, ‘New Year: Don’t lose hope, pray for your leaders, Wase urges Nigerians,’ the Deputy Speaker advised Nigerians to believe in the prosperity of the country.
2020 most challenging year – Governors
However, some governors have described 2020 as the most challenging year ever in the country.
Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, who appreciated the people of the state for the cooperation and support given to the administration, said the past one year had been the most challenging in human history.
He promised that the administration’s development agenda was on course and that he would continue to work tirelessly to set Osun on the pathway of sustainable economic revolution.
Also, his counterpart in Delta State, Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, in his New Year message, described 2020 as a very challenging period for the state, its people, the nation and even the international community.
In the message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing quality and enhanced service delivery to Deltans, expressing confidence that God would perfect everything concerning the state and Nigeria in 2021.
In Cross River, Governor Ben Ayade, who reflected on the challenges of the past 12 months, expressed optimism that “2021 will be a year of significant milestones for the state.”
Also in his New Year message, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State urged the people of the state to remain steadfast in their support to his administration’s battle against insecurity, COVID-19 and economic challenges.
In Bayelsa State, Governor Douye Diri described the year 2020 as “dynamic, turbulent and challenging”, urging the people to be courageous in 2021.
His counterpart in Gombe, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, enjoined the people of the state to reflect and draw on the lessons learnt in 2020 in all aspects of human endeavours and continue to work assiduously for the unity, peace, security and development of the state and the country.
Similarly, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State said 2020 was a difficult year and encouraged citizens to be assured that 2021 would be better.
Also, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, described year 2020 as a period in which Nigerians were “plagued” with security, social and economic challenges.
Nigerians should be thankful for surviving 2020 – Makinde
In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde declared that residents of the state and Nigerians should be thankful to God for surviving 2020.
Makinde in his New Year address, said although the year was full of turbulence, God’s grace saw them through the various challenges that blighted the year 2020.
The governor maintained that despite various events that set the state back economically, the state government was still able to record a huge reduction in the infrastructure deficit of the state.
Observe COVID-19 protocols in 2021 – Ortom
In the meantime, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, called on Nigerians to work for peaceful coexistence of the country.
Ortom in his New Year message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, also called on Nigerians as they go into year 2021 to remember the need to always observe COVID-19 protocols such as wearing of face masks, the use of hand sanitizers, physical distancing and avoiding crowded places.
Still on New Year messages, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, urged Nigerians to be on the lookout for developmental projects in the coming year.
The governor added that he would not allow the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce his pace of work.
Akeredolu pardons 11 prisoners
The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, used the opportunity that the New Year provided to pardon 11 inmates at the Nigerian Correctional Service centres in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, who confirmed this to our correspondent in Akure, explained that the governor’s directive was in accordance with the power conferred on him by “paragraph (d) of sub-section (1) of section 212 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
Steps to achieve credible polls start this year, says Ekweremadu
Senator Ike Ekweremadu has promised Nigerians that the process of achieving a free, fair and credible election would start this year with the signing into law, the amendments to the Electoral Act by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
“The year 2020, no doubt, was a challenging year for the world and also for Nigeria as a nation. The citizens in particular have been through tough times. But we should nevertheless continue to trust in God,” he said.
Nepotism, poor governance fuelling insecurity – Nnamani
In his goodwill message to Nigerians marking the New Year, a former governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, said the agitations and restiveness in parts of the country could be curtailed and eradicated if infrastructure development and appointments into key offices in government were based on fairness, equity and justice.
Nnamani, who represents Enugu East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, noted that any action or policy of the government that tended to offend the sensibilities of citizens would always produce negative results.
Act fast, Nigerians living in fear, Mark tells Buhari
Meanwhile, a former President of the Senate, David Mark, has advised the Buhari regime to act fast and allay the fears of Nigerians by tackling the issue of insecurity in the country without further delay.
In a goodwill message to Nigerians to mark the New Year, he said the negative perception about the country would be reversed if the deteriorating security situation improves significantly.
Security of lives must be paramount in 2021, says Adegbite
Adding his voice to the deluge of New Year goodwill messages across the country, the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Rt. Rev. Stephen Adegbite, said the security of lives and property must be paramount in the mind of the government in 2021.
He said, “We have made frantic calls on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to rejig the top brass of the military particularly the service chiefs and fish out the saboteurs that may be working against the fight.”
Address Nigerians’ fears, Martins advises govt
In his New Year message, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Dr Alfred Martins, challenged all those in government at the federal and state levels, to be proactive in addressing the fears being expressed by the citizens.
This he said they could do by quickly putting in place appropriate measures and policies that would mitigate the projected renewed economic challenges that may come with the New Year.
“In this New Year, my advice to Nigerians is not to allow fear to rob them of the joy of seeing a New Year. I understand so many predictions have been going around on social media that the year 2021 will be tough.
“But I urge you not to be afraid. Rather than succumb to fear and its corresponding apprehension, people should be optimistic and place their hope and trust in the Almighty God, who is able to turn around all things for good.”
Glo congratulates Nigerians
Meanwhile, Globacom has charged Nigerians to look on the bright side of life as a new year begins saying “there are reasons to be thankful despite the daunting challenges of 2020.”
Globacom, in a goodwill message for the New Year, said, “We believe we should be grateful for getting through the year as individuals, families and nation in spite of the challenges occasioned by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. We were able to survive the challenging times to witness the New Year together.”
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