The new National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) is empowered to draw up guidelines which will require political parties to comply with the principle of rotational power sharing. NECON will continue to initiate and ensure continuous dialogue between the government and all political parties. It is also empowered to maintain consultation with the international community.

Revenue allocation formula

With regard to the long standing issue of revenue allocation, government has approved the recommendation that a fixed percentage of 13% of all revenue accruing to the federation account directly from natural resources shall be set aside as derivation. This is to compensate communities which suffer severe ecological degradation as a result of the exploitation in their areas.

Multi-party system

Government notes the overwhelming desire of the political class to abandon the two-party system owing to the endless acrimony, intra-party squabbles and instability it generated. Government therefore accepts in principle the multi-party system as proposed in the Draft Constitution. The National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) shall be directed to enforce, with vigour and stringency, guidelines which shall ensure that political parties are truly national in character.

Federal character commission

Government has accepted the recommendation for a Federal Character Commission to be established. This will serve as a positive step towards correcting the imbalances which have disadvantaged sections of our citizenry.

Devolution of more powers to states

It is our conviction that the competition for political offices at the federal level may become less intense, less attractive or acrimonious if some federal powers are devolved to states and local governments. Devolution will also promote more rapid development at the grassroots. Government therefore intends to establish a committee which shall work out modalities and guidelines for devolving more powers and functions to the lower tiers of government, especially in the areas of health, education, agriculture, roads and housing.

State creation

The issue of the final structure of our federation was an ongoing matter vigorously canvassed at the Constitutional Conference. It is consistent with our policy of having a balanced federation, that the aspirations of our people for self-determination, which have been expressed in the demands for new states and local governments, be considered on their individual merit.

We understand and sympathise with these demands because states and local governments help spread rapid development nationwide and give stability to our three-tier system of government. The government is working out comprehensive criteria for this exercise and the new states and local governments to be created will be revealed in accordance with our transition timetable.

Coup plotters

It is a matter of regret and great disappointment that at this period when there is a genuine endeavour to move the nation towards an elected democracy, there should be unpatriotic Nigerians who would wish to take us back to the dark days of unrest and uncertainties. The treasonable act of those recently convicted of plotting to take power by force can only be explained by their desire to fulfill their urge for naked power.

Investigations and confessions taken at the trial have since revealed that the accomplices included some Nigerian fugitives, some of whom were implicated in previous coups and are now residing in some European cities. They also included officers who had been convicted in previous coup attempts but were recently released after serving reduced jail terms.

This trial, unlike others before it, proceeded carefully and thoroughly in order to ascertain all the circumstances of the incident. The investigation was determined to expose fully all those who were involved and to draw lessons on ways of bringing the circle of coups and counter-coups that have perennially dogged the evolutionary progress of our political development.

It is a matter of further regret that there were people who when they sought to intervene on behalf of the coup plotters significantly failed to condemn them  and their intentions. These glaring lapses notwithstanding, I am encouraged by the support shown towards this administration by the majority of our citizens who have expressed their outrage. Nigerians have long become disenchanted with the coup culture. It surprises me therefore that this message has still to sink in with some patently ambitious and self-centred persons. I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge the concerns of those world leaders whom we hold in genuine friendship who appealed to us to show clemency.

Fellow Nigerians, we are quite capable of making the distinction between friends who are genuinely concerned for the peace and stability of our nation and others who have tried to intervene for their own self-interest. It would be a betrayal of the sacred trust we hold on behalf of our people if we were to compromise the peace and stability of Nigeria. On the other hand, we must not, by an act of omission or commission, encourage willful lawlessness by conveniently looking the other way when the hard decision has to be made. This administration will not collaborate with a system of justice under which one set of rules exists for the rich and powerful and another for the poor and the weak.

Nigeria cherishes her cordial relations with the world beyond our borders. As a mature people, we know that events inside our country do not go unnoticed among the far reaches of the international community. In consideration for the earnest pleas of our friends and in the spirit of national reconciliation which has been the centrepiece of this administration's policy, government has decided to commute the sentences on the coup plotters. This situation will be reviewed at the appropriate time.

MKO Abiola issue

The case of Chief MKO Abiola, who is standing trial for treason, has been widely distorted in the orchestrated campaign to mislead the world. An act of treason is as serious as it is grievous. It is an assault on one's country and a deadly affront to one's fellow citizens. Those who describe Chief Abiola as a political prisoner seek to trivialise the grave offence for which he is charged. Chief Abiola cannot be in any doubt whatsoever that the election which he claims to have won was an inconclusive exercise which had been declared illegal by a competent court of law.

He must also be aware that the political parties which contested the ill-fated elections had mutually agreed to the formation of an Interim National Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. That patriotic decision was made by them not only to break the deadlock of the prevailing political stalemate but also to remove the risk of an escalation towards the breakdown of law and order. When a deterioration later set in to weaken this arrangement, Chief Abiola not only publicly called upon the military to intervene, he actively participated in selecting the broad-based cabinet of the new administration.

It is the considered view of this administration that the ongoing judicial process should continue its course. The courts exist to determine judicial matters brought before them and until such a time as when Chief Abiola is judged guilty or innocent of the charges preferred again him, it would be wrong and a poor precedent for the democratic system for which we are laying a foundation to invoke executive fiat in a matter that is still sub judice.

This nation has moved beyond the controversy surrounding June 12, 1993. We cannot make progress by flogging dead issues or by pretending that matters which have long since been overtaken by events should be exhumed and given fresh breath. Nigeria is not stagnant nor is it retrogressing. On the contrary, we are moving forward with a set purpose and a clear vision.

Timetable

Fellow Nigerians, you may recall my pledge that a political timetable outlining the transition to civil rule would be made known at the appropriate time. With my announcement today of the new phase of the transition programme, it is obvious that the duration of the timetable will be determined by the time required to complete each phase of the programme.

For example, the major components of the transition programme are the establishment of a proper independent electoral machinery to regulate party formation; delineation of constituencies and voters registration, and the resolution of the issue of the creation of new states and local government as well as boundary adjustments. We also have the important task of establishing a sound and stable economic base.

Fellow Nigerians, in order to properly address these issues and to establish the foundations of a durable democracy, we estimate that the time required will cover a period no more than 36 months.

A detailed and carefully considered programme of the sequence of events that will lead to that deadline has been worked out. This sequence will begin with a stage-by-stage, phased handing-over at the local government level. It has been calculated that a completion date, at the level of the Presidency when the final tier of a democratically elected civil Government shall be installed should be feasible for 1st October 1998. A detailed breakdown of the transition timetable indicating events each quarter up to final disengagement is as follows:

1995 LAST QUARTER (October - December)

1. Approval of draft constitution.
2. Lifting all restrictions on political activities.
3. Establishment of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON).
4. Creation of:

• Transitional Implementation Committee
• National Reconciliation Committee
• Federal Character Commission

1. Appointment of panel for creation of state; local government; boundary adjustment.

1996 FIRST QUARTER (January - March)

1. Election and inauguration of local government councils on non-party basis.

1996 SECOND QUARTER (April - June)

1. Creation of states and local governments.
2. Commence process of political party registration.

1996 THIRD QUARTER (July - September)

1. Registration of political parties.
2. Delineation of constituencies.
3. Production of authentic voters register.

1996 FOURTH QUARTER (October - December)

1. Election of local government councils at party level.

1997 FIRST QUARTER (January - March)

1. Inauguration of party elected local government councils.
2. Consolidation of new political party structures.
3. Tribunal sitting and conduct of any local government bye elections.

1997 SECOND QUARTER (April - June)

1. Party state primaries to select candidates for state assembly and governorship elections.
2. Screening and approval of candidates by the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria.

1997 THIRD QUARTER (July - September)

1. State assembly elections.

1997 FOURTH QUARTER (October - December)

1. Election of state governors.
2. Sitting of state election tribunals and conduct of bye election.

1998 FIRST QUARTER (January - March)

1. Inauguration of state assembly and state governors.
2. Party primaries to select candidates for National Assembly elections.
3. National Assembly election campaigns.

1998 SECOND QUARTER (April - June)

1. National Assembly elections.
2. Primaries to select candidates for presidential elections.
3. Commencement of nationwide campaigns for the presidential elections.

1998 THIRD QUARTER (July - September)

1. Presidential elections.

1ST OCTOBER 1998

Swearing in of new elected president and final disengagement.

Fellow Nigerians, this administration has demonstrated a will to make the hard decisions. Only those detractors who deliberately persist in a blinkered view of us and our efforts fail to take account of all that we have achieved in so short a time. I sincerely appeal to the international community for support in our endeavours. This administration does not shy away from well-meaning advice on political, economic and financial matters.

We are prepared to listen, but if having listened, we make our decision, we expect our true friends to concede that right to us. Our country is fertile for trade and investment. We have not despaired that some of our traditional friends who have not always given us their support will yet bring themselves to admit that they may have been wrong after all. I can only refer them to favourable comments and assessments which international financial institutions and our creditors are freely giving out to the world.

Nigeria will continue to play her traditional role in the international system. It is our hope that the international community will also continue to respond positively to the bold and determined steps we have taken. Despite the myth propagated in certain circles that Nigeria is no longer welcome in a large number of places, the fact is that our great country continues to enjoy respect and cooperation in large areas of the world which have bothered to study our conditions and policies at first hand.

The government will remain committed to working with the international community to terminate drug trafficking and organised crime. Substantial and notable progress has been recorded by this administration during the past and more resources will be committed to this issue in our future programmes. We welcome the continuing assistance and advice of our friends in the international community. This administration is committed to build upon recent efforts in ensuring air safety of our airspace and security at our airports.

Foreign nations which wish to continue to maintain cordial relations with us must observe the internationally accepted standard which holds that dissidents should not be permitted to use their host country as bases for subversion and the plotting of violence. This administration will not degrade itself nor abuse the dignity of our great nation by seeking to harass in any way those who have chosen to opt out of the development of their fatherland and chosen the luxury and self-indulgence of comfortable residence abroad.

Instead, we faithfully pledge that all Nigerians currently resident abroad who wish to return to their fatherland and offer their contributions to the national effort are welcome to do so. As long as they are law-abiding, they should have no cause for concern. There are Nigerians who have not found it necessary to leave their country who freely express their dissident opinions.

Any fair-minded observer will testify to the fact that our news media which do not go beyond the law are free to express their views even sometimes to the extent of astonishing and confusing foreign visitors who had been led to believe, wrongly, that Nigeria is a police state. More than 60 daily newspapers are circulated in Nigeria. Foreign publications are neither censored nor restricted in their circulation drives in Nigeria.

It is true that at a certain juncture in our recent crisis, The Guardian, The Punch and National Concord which embarked on a dangerous crusade to destabilise the nation by aiding and abetting civil disorder were proscribed. But following guarantees received from the publishers of The Guardian Newspapers that they would henceforth operate within the limits of the law, their right to operate was restored.

The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Guild of Editors have made several appeals during the past months on behalf of the shut media houses. This administration has no interest in the destruction of any media organisation but it is our duty to continue to protect the public interest. However, it is our desire at this time to give assurance to all Nigerians and our friends abroad that we mean well. Consequently, The Punch and National Concord are hereby deproscribed. It is hoped that following this gesture, these media houses would now operate responsibly within the law and in the national interest.

Fellow Nigerians, it is an old saying that there is no place like home. On this 35th anniversary of our country's independence, I commend the people of Nigeria for their tireless efforts to build a greater tomorrow for themselves and for the generations that will follow. If we have had our problems, we have also had our achievements. This nation is richly endowed and we are in a process of leaming to harness our resources in such a way that we can maximise their usage. We are in a continuous learning process. Our goals are achievable and with God's guidance we shall succeed.

The performance of the representatives at the recent World Conference in Beijing did us all proud. They demonstrated the progress which has been made by women in the few decades since old traditions began to fade and equal opportunities were applied to them. There is a long way to go, but Beijing and the increasing role of women in our national affairs should inspire our women to come forward in greater number and take the right lead into the political and business arena where I have to say they are already making good progress.

I wish to express my appreciation to the workers of this nation who over the past months have permitted industrial peace in our country. This administration will continue to address sympathetically all matters related to our workers’ welfare. We appeal to our labour organisations for their maximum cooperation during the period of this transition to ensure a hitch-free implementation of our programmes.

Fellow countrymen, I am aware of the level of unemployment in the country at this time. Under these circumstances, I direct that the embargo on employment in the federal civil service be lifted forthwith.

It is our hope that our efforts will result in a better and safer nation for our future generations. To this end, we will ensure that facilities for the healthy and full development of our youths, particularly the educational institutions, receive our priority attention. I appeal to all our youths to be hardworking, law-abiding and disciplined. They should strive all the time for excellence to prepare themselves for the highly competitive world that they are to inherit.

I call upon our aspiring political leaders to consider this phase of the transition programme as both an opportunity and a period of reorientation. Great nations are built by men with flesh and blood whose hearts beat with a sense of mission and a desire to serve, whatever their political colouration and ideology.

I do not believe that the entire Nigerian political class is in a class of of its own and that this is lesser than its counterpart in the world at large. But I do believe that we have not always got the best from a significant number of those who asked to be allowed to serve. The present transition programme will be a test and it should be a discovery that a new and cherished spirit has emerged among our leaders of tomorrow.

As we embark on this crucial phase of our transition this administration is fully committed in the task of its implementation. We will spare no efforts in our common determination to move our nation forward.

I ask all those who wish to participate in this process to step forward now with courage, sincerity and commitments to give our country a new leadership.