Nigerian President announces cuts in government spending and salaries

President Jonathan said he felt the pain of Nigerians .

Nigerian President announces cuts in government spending and salaries
Ugo Okoro, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan has addressed Nigerians in a national broadcast announcing cuts in government spending and salaries of top government officials in the Executive arm of government.

In a national broadcast from Abuja at 20hrs GMT, President Jonathan announced a 25 per cent cut in salaries of top government officials and a reduction in foreign trips.

He said only necessary foreign travel would be allowed and that the size of delegations on these journeys would be cut down in size.

The President said that the number of government agencies and committees would also be reduced and that a report on this reduction was to be submitted soon to the National Assembly.

He gave the directive to all government ministries and agencies to cut their spending and reduce overhead costs.

Subsidy funds and Palliatives

President Jonathan said that funds realized from the subsidy removal would be judiciously used in empowerment and investment projects, including Power, Education and Healthcare.

He said that a "robust" mass transit programme would be launched on Sunday, stressing that import duty on locally produced mass transit vehicles would be given to encourage lower transport prices.

The President added that directives had been given to finish the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail lines as well as the Lagos to Kano railwy lines.

President Jonathan said he has directed the commencement of the Public Works programme aimed at providing jobs for about 370,000 youths nationwide.

He assured Nigerians that every possible effort would be made to ensure that the country moves forward, "with a collective resolve to build a Nigeria that can generate greater economic growth, create and sustain new jobs, and secure the future of our children."  

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