I want to rebuild Nigeria - Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has told civil servants, who are in the habit of abandoning their duties, to shape in or shape out.
He said his administration would not tolerate indiscipline.
The President, who spoke at the 2015 National Productivity Day and conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit award, said he had resolved to lead the productivity crusade and directed the National Productivity Centre to put in place machinery for him to launch the Productivity Movement in Nigeria.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, the President also directed the establishment of productivity and efficiency units in Ministries, Departments and Agencies to drive the change agenda in the public sector.
He assured that the centre would be encouraged and empowered to ensure the implementation of this directive as well carry out its mandate of ensuring a productive nation.
Buhari said: “We shall dedicate ourselves to the ideals of resilience, integrity, excellence, standards, goodwill, accountability, good governance, patriotism and productivity. The time has come for all hands to be on deck to work towards a new improved, recharged and productive Nigeria”.
According to him, “…we are capable of accepting the challenges of nation-building by demonstrating that given the opportunities, we can be as efficient and effective as any group in the world.
“This administration assumed office at a time morale was at its lowest in all strata of the society and the nation was functioning as a rudderless ship. There was a clear evidence that the system was not working the way it should and the people had lost confidence and hope in the government hence the inevitable clamour for change.
“I wish to commend the resilience of our people and the speed at which they respond to the realities of our time. Given the right political leadership and judicious management of human and material resources, the Nigeria dream can still be attained.
“This is the onerous task that this administration has taken upon itself and we shall not rest in the quest to achieve this objective. All we need is your support patience, loyalty, patriotism and perseverance.
“The mission of this administration is to make Nigeria a strong, strategic and proactive state through a deliberate, pragmatic and productivity-conscious programme of action. We want to rebuild Nigeria into a competitive, virile productive economy; a state whose citizens are creative, innovative, responsive, accountable, incorruptible, patriotic and diligent.
“The society recognises that while inadequacy of resources is one of our problems, mismanagement of the little we have through corruption and impunity is the most impactful. To get to the promised land we must leave take the battle to the doorstep of corruption. “Corruption is dangerous and cancerous to the nation, and this administration is prepared to stay in bed with it. We are resolute in our commitment to fight corruption .
“In consonance with our resolve to chart a new course for good governance, a great deal of premium is placed on making change a reality, especially through productivity improvement initiatives.
“Our concern is to build a productivity culture. A culture that will not only think of a measure of production or amount produced, but how good the resources had been combined and used to achieve specific-designed results, in this regard. I shall personally lead the productivity crusade.
“The National Productivity Centre is directed to put in place a machinery for my formal launching of the productivity movement. I will expect the governors to do the same in their states.
“We have just started a race of four years. It is not a race that you run in one day and it ends there. It requires planning patience, tact and constant review so that we do not lose steam and begin to retrogress. We need to take one step at a time.
“The public service, as the organ of government responsible for the formulation and implementation of government policies has a critical role to play in this new dispensation. It is my intention to hold the public servants collectively and individually responsible for the planning and implementation of the change contemplated by this administration. From now, it will no longer be business as usual. Excellence will be rewarded and mediocrity will not be tolerated.
“Consequently, I wish to direct the establishment of productivity and efficiency units in all ministries, departments and agencies to drive the change agenda. The National Productivity Centre shall be encouraged and empowered to ensure the implementation of this directive as well as carry out its mandate of ensuring a productive nation”.
In his address, Dr. Illoh said increased productivity remained the key towards the realisation of the country of our dream, adding that there was need to demonstrate productivity improvement in our national life.
Dr. Illoh, who was represented by the Director of Productivity Measurement, Mrs. Theresa Briamoh, said the history of Nigeria was replete with several missed opportunities from low productivity preventing the country from taking its rightful place as an economic giant in the comity of nations.
He added that in the spirit of change for positive development, it was apt that Nigerians exploit the vast natural resources and other economic opportunities the country was endowed with.
Those honoured on the occasion include Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Commission, Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication Technology, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, Mrs. Uwemedimo Edet Asomugha, Saleh Dunoma, Ajibola Olasehinde Olabode, Marcus Danladi, Ijeomah Azubuike, Danliti Yahaya Isah, Comrade Lateef Idowu Oyelekun, Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi, Anthony Chinwuba Ani, and Dr. John Alfa.
Organisations honoured were Lubcon Limited and Artee Group.