ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR, PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 63RD INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY OF
NIGERIA ON SUNDAY, 1ST OCTOBER, 2023
Dear Compatriots,
It is my unique honour to address
you on this day, the 63rd anniversary of our nation’s independence, both as the
President of our dear country and, simply, as a fellow Nigerian.
On this solemn yet hopeful day, let us commend our founding fathers and mothers. Without them, there would be no modern Nigeria. From the fading embers of colonialism, their activism, dedication and leadership gave life to the belief in Nigeria as a sovereign and independent nation.
Let us, at this very moment,
affirm that as Nigerians, we are all endowed with the sacred rights and
individual gifts that God has bestowed on us as a nation and as human beings.
No one is greater or lesser than the other. The triumphs that Nigeria has
achieved shall define us. The travails we have endured shall strengthen us. And
no other nation or power on this earth shall keep us from our rightful place
and destiny. This nation belongs to you, dear people. Love and cherish it as
your very own.
Nigeria is remarkable in its
formation and essential character. We are a broad and dynamic blend of ethnic
groups, religions, traditions and cultures. Yet, our bonds are intangible yet
strong, invisible yet universal. We are joined by a common thirst for peace and
progress, by the common dream of prosperity and harmony and by the unifying
ideals of tolerance and justice.
Forging a nation based on the
fair application of these noble principles to a diverse population has been a task
of significant blessing but also serial challenge. Some people have said an
independent Nigeria should never have come into existence. Some have said that
our country would be torn apart. They are forever mistaken. Here, our nation
stands and here we shall remain.
This year, we passed a
significant milestone in our journey to a better Nigeria. By democratically
electing a 7th consecutive civilian government, Nigeria has proven that
commitment to democracy and the rule of law remains our guiding light.
At my inauguration, I made
important promises about how I would govern this great nation. Among those
promises, were pledges to reshape and modernize our economy and to secure the
lives, liberty and property of the people.
I said that bold reforms were necessary
to place our nation on the path of prosperity and growth. On that occasion, I
announced the end of the fuel subsidy.
I am attuned to the hardships
that have come. I have a heart that feels and eyes that see. I wish to explain
to you why we must endure this trying moment. Those who sought to perpetuate
the fuel subsidy and broken foreign exchange policies are people who would
build their family mansion in the middle of a swamp. I am different. I am not a
man to erect our national home on a foundation of mud. To endure, our home must
be constructed on safe and pleasant ground.
Reform may be painful, but it is
what greatness and the future require. We now carry the costs of reaching a
future Nigeria where the abundance and fruits of the nation are fairly shared
among all, not hoarded by a select and greedy few. A Nigeria where hunger,
poverty and hardship are pushed into the shadows of an ever fading past.
There is no joy in seeing the
people of this nation shoulder burdens that should have been shed years ago. I
wish today’s difficulties did not exist. But we must endure if we are to reach
the good side of our future.
My government is doing all that
it can to ease the load. I will now outline the path we are taking to relieve
the stress on our families and households.
We have embarked on several
public sector reforms to stabilize the economy, direct fiscal and monetary
policy to fight inflation, encourage production, ensure the security of lives
and property and lend more support to the poor and the vulnerable.
Based on our talks with labour,
business and other stakeholders, we are introducing a provisional wage
increment to enhance the federal minimum wage without causing undue inflation.
For the next six months, the average low-grade worker shall receive an
additional Twenty-Five Thousand naira per month.
To ensure better grassroots
development, we set up an Infrastructure Support Fund for states to invest in
critical areas. States have already received funds to provide relief packages
against the impact of rising food and other prices.
Making the economy more robust by
lowering transport costs will be key. In this regard, we have opened a new
chapter in public transportation through the deployment of cheaper, safer
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses across the nation. These buses will operate
at a fraction of current fuel prices, positively affecting transport fares.
New CNG conversions kits will
start coming in very soon as all hands are on deck to fast track the usually
lengthy procurement process. We are also setting up training facilities and
workshops across the nation to train and provide new opportunities for
transport operators and entrepreneurs. This is a groundbreaking moment where,
as a nation, we embrace more efficient means to power our economy. In making
this change, we also make history.
I pledged a thorough
housecleaning of the den of malfeasance the CBN had become. That housecleaning
is well underway. A new leadership for the Central Bank has been constituted.
Also, my special investigator will soon present his findings on past lapses and
how to prevent similar reoccurrences. Henceforth, monetary policy shall be for
the benefit of all and not the exclusive province of the powerful and wealthy.
Wise tax policy is essential to
economic fairness and development. I have inaugurated a Committee on Tax
Reforms to improve the efficiency of tax administration in the country and
address fiscal policies that are unfair or hinder the business environment and
slow our growth.
To boost employment and urban
incomes, we are providing investment funding for enterprises with great
potential. Similarly, we are increasing investment in micro, small and
medium-sized enterprises.
Commencing this month, the social
safety net is being extended through the expansion of cash transfer programs to
an additional 15 million vulnerable households.
My administration shall always
accord the highest priority to the safety of the people. Inter-Service
collaboration and intelligence sharing have been enhanced. Our Service Chiefs
have been tasked with the vital responsibility of rebuilding the capacities of
our security services.
Here, I salute and commend our
gallant security forces for keeping us safe and securing our territorial integrity.
Many have paid the ultimate sacrifice. We remember them today and their
families. We shall equip our forces with the ways and means needed to perform
their urgent task on behalf of the people,
We shall continue to make key
appointments in line with the provisions of the Constitution and with fairness
toward all. Women, Youth and the physically challenged shall continue to be
given due regard in these appointments.
May I take this opportunity to
congratulate the National Assembly for its role in the quick take-off of this
administration through the performance of its constitutional duties of
confirmation and oversight.
I similarly congratulate the
judiciary as a pillar of democracy and fairness.
I also thank members of our
dynamic civil society organizations and labour unions for their dedication to
Nigerian democracy. We may not always agree but I value your advice and
recommendations. You are my brothers and sisters and you have my due respect.
Fellow compatriots, the journey
ahead will not be navigated by fear or hatred. We can only achieve our better
Nigeria through courage, compassion and commitment as one indivisible unit.
I promise that I shall remain
committed and serve faithfully. I also invite all to join this enterprise to
remake our beloved nation into its better self. We can do it. We must do it. We
shall do it.!!!
I wish you all a happy 63rd
Independence Anniversary.
Thank you for listening.
May God bless the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
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