Confab report to be presented to next National Assembly

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said that the report of the National Conference would be presented to the next National Assembly.

Jonathan gave the assurance at the flag-off the PDP presidential election campaign at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, ahead of the February election.

He said that the executive arm of the government did not want to present the report to the current assembly because of some issues in the assembly.

The President said that his administration approved the conference with the aim of moving Nigeria forward and would want the report to be well applied.

He said that the general elections were about the young people.

“We have just introduced our governorship candidates, and you see their age brackets. I directed INEC yesterday to ensure that every eligible voter must vote, and I mean it.

“We put voter’s card in place. This administration is relevant to Nigerians,’’ he said.

The President said that Nigeria was for the youth, and urged the youth to defend the country.

On security, Jonathan faulted those saying that the military was ill-equipped.

According to him, no country equips its military overnight.

“They refused to build the capacity over the years before we even came into power and instigated crisis. Now, they try to blame it on this administration.

“On corruption, I told the anti -corruption agencies to tell Nigerians what we have been able to achieve,’’ he told the gathering.

Jonathan apologised to federal civil servants for delayed December salary.

He blamed the delay on an attempt by some ministries and parastatals to divert funds made for salaries to pay allowances.

He said that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), through which salaries were paid, had to reject the irregularity in an effort to check corruption.

Jonathan said that the only way to stop corruption was to set up institutions and strengthen them.

He said that his administration had done much in the areas of upholding the rule of law, due process, improving rail transport, power sector and education development.

“I set up 12 universities in the remaining 12 states where there are no universities and came up with schools for the Almajiri and out of school children,” he said.

Jonathan said that the administration also set a Presidential Job Creation Board which would make sure that at least two million jobs would be created in Nigeria annually.

He urged Nigerians to vote for the PDP for the empowerment of Nigerian women, youth and progress of the country.

Also speaking, Vice President Namadi Sambo commended Nigerians for continued support for the Jonathan administration.

Sambo said that continued support would not be in vain.

He urged the members to the electorate to ensure that they registered to vote.

The vice- president described Jonathan as fair and detribalised.

He said that Lagos residents would be liberated from the shackles of heavy taxation if they would elect Mr Jimi Agbaje of the PDP as their next governor.

Earlier, the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, commended the party members for their commitment and dedication.

He expressed satisfaction at the turnout of the members and the party supporters for the rally.

Muazu promised continued internal democracy in the party.

“Whatever your tribe, ethnic group or religion, you can be whatever you want to be in the PDP and Nigeria,” he said.

Senate President David Mark expressed gratitude to Nigerians for supporting Jonathan’s administration.

He said that the Jonathan administration’s transformation agenda had impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians.

Highlights of the event included the presentation of flags to the governorship candidates of the party across the nation.

(NAN)