PROTOCOL 1.    It is my pleasure and honour to present the 2013 Federal Budget Proposal before this esteemed Joint Session of the National Assembly. I am particularly delighted to present this Proposal to you earlier in the year, and soon after the commemoration of our national independence, to signal our commitment to evolving a new Nigeria. This Proposal is the product of extensive consultations with key stakeholders and would further translate the Government’s development plans into concrete actions. 2.    When I presented the 2012 Budget, you will recall, I emphasized the fact that it would be “a stepping-stone to the transformation of our economy and country in our walk to economic freedom ...”. I am glad to report that we have made progress in this regard.Today, in the face of critical resource constraints, the defining moment of our work is in actualizing our promises to Nigerians.We need to create a structur...

[quote]Address by His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Gcfr,  at the Opening Ceremony of the 7th Summit of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (Aflpm), Abuja, July 26, 2012.[/quote] I am delighted to welcome you all to Abuja, our capital city, for the 7th Summit of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM). The convening of this Summit is a great honour and privilege for the Government and people of Nigeria. I am confident that you will have a pleasant stay in our country. Let me specially thankHer Excellency, President Joyce Banda of Malawi for her insightful and inspiring keynote address.Herthought-provoking contributions on the important role of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), and the value of our collective search for peace and security in Africa, sets the right tone for further reflections on the subject. Madam President, we are grateful. Today’s summit reaffirms the sense of urgency ...