The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday reeled out its much anticipated rescue plan for “near-permanent-trauma” Nigeria.
Top on its 31-page manifesto, APC plans to put an end to power outage by generating 40,000MW of electricity between four and eight years including liberalizing monopoly of power generation and supply, with efficient tariff system.
The opposition party also pledged to within one year in office, create one million new middle-class home owners by putting a place a national mortgage system that will loan money at single digit interest rate to Nigerians.
The manifesto, which was distributed to leaders and elders of APC at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, presided over by its Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, also promised to amend the constitution to remove immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminal cases.
The manifesto reads in part: “APC in Government shall muster the political will to wage strident War Against Corruption; otherwise our post-oil economy will be disastrous.
“It is our considered view that none of our cardinal programmes will succeed if the current level of corruption and looting going on in the land is allowed to continue
“We shall strengthen and make independent the EFCC, ICPC and other anti-graft agencies and repeal the laws which inhibit their independence.
“We shall embark on public sensitisation campaign and civic education against corruption in schools and town halls.
“Shall encourage civil society organisations, advocacy groups and whistle-blowers in the anti-graft vanguard.
“We shall stop the corruption of our electoral process by making Independent National and State Electoral Commissions (INEC) truly independent.
“We shall establish special courts for corruption, after due and thorough review of the Penal Code.
“To actualise this, we shall make the appointment of the chairman and top officials of National and State Electoral Commissions public as enunciated in the Uwais Electoral Reform Report.
“On all election matters, the burden of proof shall rest with the Electoral Commissions.”
The party also said it would enhance politics and governance with reforms through more accountability and transparent process.
The party said: “APC will prevent abuse of executive, legislative and public offices through greater accountability, transparency and strict enforcement of anti-corruption laws whilst strengthening all anti-corruption agencies.
“Amend the constitution to remove immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminal cases.
“Ensure full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act so that government held data sets can be requested and used by the media and the public at large and then published on regular basis.”
On Federalism, the manifesto added: “APC will initiate action to amend our constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench Federalism and the Federal Spirit.”
On power, APC has pledged to generate and distribute up to 40,000 Megawatts of electricity in four to eight years.
The manifesto said: “Power is the centre-point of the development process. All other indices of development anchor on power and energy. The failure to make power supply efficient has impacted negatively on the economy. It has made the cost of production and business high and has invariably raised the cost of agricultural produce and other finished goods and services thereby thwarting the growth of our economy.
“The crisis in the power sector is one of the major causes of the present collapse of the industrial sector and the inability of small-scale industries to thrive. To kick-start industrial growth in the country, stable and affordable power supply is an absolute necessity.
“The APC Government shall vigorously pursue the expansion of electricity generation and distribution of up to 40,000 megawatts in four to eight years. The party will also work assiduously at making power available from renewable energy sources, such as coal, solar, hydro, wind and biomass for domestic and industrial use, wherever these prove viable.
“As a matter of pressing priority and urgency, tackle the paralysing lapses with electric power generation, distribution and supply.
“Resolve all stalemate around the reform of the power sector and develop a transparently agreed power generation and distribution milestones with clear timelines and targets.
“Liberalise the monopoly of the Federal Government in power generation and supply. We shall devolve much of power and energy to the private sector.
“The gas and thermal stations will particularly be encouraged to increase their supply capacities.
“Alternative power sources, including hydro, solar, coal and wind energy will be explored and developed.
Regular Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of existing facilities will be done to ensure steady and uninterrupted utility supply.
“An aggressive and efficient tariff/ revenue recovery system will be pursued. All avenues of waste, corruption and abuse will be checked.
“Rural electrification will continue to be encouraged.
“Improve management efficiency of the nation’s distribution system, improve commitment to consumer service and sensitise a national energy conservation and maintenance culture on electricity supply.”
On national security and defence: “APC will urgently address capacity building of law enforcement agents in terms of quantity and quality as this is critical in safeguarding the sanctity of lives and property.
“Establish a well-trained, adequately funded, equipped and goals driven Serious Crime Squad to combat terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy, ethno-religious and communal clashes nationwide.
“Begin widespread consultations to amend the constitution to decentralise the police command and expand local content by including community policing.”
“Push for more support in the security and economic stability of the sub-region (ECOWAS) and AU as a whole and maintain a strong, close and frank relationship with the international community.
“Take renewed measures to secure our borders, which are currently too porous for effective control of…
“Take renewed measures to secure our borders which are currently too porous for effective control of unwarranted movement.
“Establish a National Coast Guard to protect our coastal waters.”
Concerning the economy, APC in its manifesto, said it would make “Nigerian economy one of the fastest growing emerging economies in the world achieving a real GDP growth averaging 10 per cent annually.
“Embark on vocational training, entrepreneurial and skill acquisition scheme for graduates along with the creation of small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme to create at least 1million new jobs every year, for the foreseeable future.
“Create additional middle-class of at least 1 million new home owners in our first year in government and 1 million annually thereafter, by enacting a national mortgage system that will lend at single digit interest rates for purchase of owner occupier houses.”
They have started again with vain promises that they cannot keep or account for.We have heard this over and over again.How many of these promises have they implemented 20 percent in the states the control..Nigerians must open their eyes wide in 2015 or we all go into perpectual slavery.We must make sure our votes count,because that is our power for change.They must tell us(Nigerian)how much their representative collect as salaries and allowances before we decide.
Hmmmmmmm! Partisanship?
I do find it important to let you know in little lines that “nigerians haven’t heard this manifesto before frankly speaking”but if you”hv heard this before do well to understand “change” is most needed.this manifesto has been put together by a new set of nigerians and I think this will help to kick start “change”.power should change hand and let’s watch from there.the manifesto is of class and so elaborate in salvaging nigerians basic needs.I really hope these are the right people.we really do need change.
@Seewhy Ha-ha-ha-haaaaaa!OMG.Hmmm,’Change’ indeed
As long as Buhari $ Bola Tinibu are still alive nothing will work for them. If they like, they shud change their name a hundred times or merge a hundred parties. Charity they say begins @ home, hw much change have they brought to the state they govern. As for me & my household we are voting PDP & beyond lol. The Devil I no …, than Buhari & Agbero – Tinubu.
Look @ old fools how the are lying to them safe.
Isn’t there a policy here that can stop hate mails? Some of us may just refrain from visiting this site because of crude insults in comments. Thank you!
It’s just a pity dt some people r still under d PDP spells. PDP has failed Nigeria nd change is inevitable @ dis junction we r.
@ Goddy nd charles: stop speaking wat u know nothing about, come nd feel d wind of change in d southwest.
nothing can revive PDP in d southwest bcos ACN has exposed us to gud governance!
@ayo if e dey pain u no click.
This is the same APC that instructed their members to vote against L.G. Autonomy yet they come and start promising el dorado. I just thank God Nigerians are getting wiser by the day.
@venoma,
wiser indeed and pple like u dont belive in church sorry 4u. l pray change come in ur life time l beg 4get sentiment and reason.
They’ve got no plan reverse d price of petrol. Bunch of ambitious thieves…….. I still dey lauch ooo
Those against d register n comming in of APC ar jst making fools of themselves.We hv witnessed n watching d 15yrs misrule of PDP whch many nigerians ar suffering n sum foolish hearted pple wan us 2 vote PDP again.wat a foolish mistake.We ned change n we ar going 2 giv diz APC a try wit gud fate.All d points made n written down,I 100% blef 99% of it wud b don.We ar tier of bunch of thevies n corrupt leaders who dnt hv diz country @ heart.We wud nt vote on ethno,tribal n religious ground.we will vote base deliverance n gud leadership style n who has d masses @ heart.4 thoes who dnt wan change let
Dem sit n kip their stinking mouth shout n let allw wise pple talk base on d reality on ground. Hail APC n May ur dreams n ours turn a reality.I luv APC 4 life n God bless APC
Oh please not again, is it dat these politician r d ones under their own spell? Cos d average nigerian has heard of such promises in d past. Am not a PDP fan but pls of all d leaders in d APC, wch of them have not been in critical leadership n decision making post before? nationally or in their respective states. What great feat did they achieve, where did they acquire d extra ability to perform d sudden so called rescue mission. Pls u pple should giv nigerians some credit abeg, we now know better. Incase u pple didn’t know, some pple jus vote for d sake of it n not becos of ur promise of eldorado.
Am not against anyone but the problem is that, is it not this same people who have taken up certain position in Nigeria before? Some spent 4-8 years on such position and we d̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ still complain of bad government up till now. My people, monkey no fit claim Gorilla Oº°˚˚˚°º. Bcoz say him wear Gorilla costume!
Thieves’! Are you talking about Tinubu who said that Lagos is not for the Poor! APC has no regard for Poor masses I wonder how they can tackle poverty and inequality. As for me, APC is worst that PDP. God will give us a better alternative to PDP but for APC, they are going no where! All Progressive Criminals’.