Renewed Hope Agenda will build a just, equitable Nigeria – Minister

Information and national orientation minister Mohammed Idris says the eight priority objectives of the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda will help build a just and equitable Nigeria for all.

Idris stated this at an interactive session with senior media editors and executives on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, the ministry, hitherto known as the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, has been unbundled by the current administration, with three different ministries emerging thereto.

“What is significant about this development is that the Tinubu administration recognises information and national orientation as the driving force of the collective efforts to building a united, peaceful and prosperous country.

“This will be achieved through mass public sensitisation of government’s economic and social policies as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The Agenda is the central governing agenda of the President, anchored on eight priority objectives that will help build a more just and equitable Nigeria.

“This will be done through reform of the economy to deliver sustained inclusive growth, strengthen national security for peace and prosperity and boost agriculture to achieve food security.

“The agenda will unlock energy and natural resources for sustainable development, enhance infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth and focus on education, health and social investment as essential pillars of development.

“It will also accelerate diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation, and improve governance for effective service delivery,” Idris said.

On Tinubu’s Supreme Court victory, he re-echoed the president’s call on all Nigerians, irrespective of political party leanings, to join hands with him toward forging ahead for a better Nigeria.

On the recent three-day Cabinet Retreat, Idris said that ministers showcased their strategies towards the success of the eight cardinal directions of the administration.

“At the end of the Cabinet Retreat, a performance bond was signed, outlining key performance indicators by which ministries and departments of the Federal Government would be assessed.

“The President also directed the reactivation of the Presidential Delivery Tracker, with the specific instruction that cutting-edge digital technology be deployed to empower Nigerians to monitor and track in real-time, the implementation of Federal Government projects across the country,” he said.

The information minister further said that Tinubu was pleased with the quick and decisive response of the National Assembly in passing the 2023 supplementary budget.

However, Idris noted that work is ongoing on the 2024 Appropriation Bill which, according to him, is going to be the first full-year budget of the Tinubu Administration.

On fuel subsidy removal, the Minister said that President Tinubu and the administration had been taking all necessary measures to alleviate the pains being felt, and to cushion the impact of these foundational reforms being pursued.

He added that the interventions are designed to serve as palliatives in the short and medium-term, as the country wait to reap the long-term benefits of the reforms.

“There is already a provisional wage increment of N35,000 monthly for six months, to enhance federal minimum wage, without causing undue inflation.”

On national value reorientation, Idris said his ministry is working on implementing a sustained mass reorientation campaign that aims to foster unity, patriotism and the promotion of positive cultural values among Nigerians.

“We will seek to collectively reorient ourselves as Nigerians in the direction of a stronger sense of national identity and shared values,” he said.

The minister welcomed with great relief, the resolution of the lingering $11 billion P and ID case, in favour of Nigeria.

He congratulated all Nigerians, and Tinubu, for his smart approach to the case, and for the positive resolution that ensued.