In a swift reaction to the Independent Day Speech delivered by President Bola Tinubu to the nation to mark the 64th Independence Day celebration, Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, have expressed disappointment over the speech as it failed to address critical national issues Nigerians are currently grappling with amidst two nationwide peaceful protests tagged #EndBadGovernance protest, and #FearlessOctober1 protest. According to The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, Andrew Mamedu, “ActionAid Nigeria is concerned by President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day speech, which echoes past promises and reforms that remain unfulfilled. Despite the administration’s claims of economic progress, the reality is a worsening crisis for millions of Nigerians who cannot afford basic necessities. Fuel subsidy removal, increasing cost of electricity, mounting inflation, heightened insecurity, inflation, and rising food prices have driven the poor into deeper poverty while unemployment soar. The President’s reforms have only worsened the economic and social crisis, creating ripple effects that have deepened poverty and inequality.
“Nigerians have been repeatedly asked by the president to “sacrifice” for the country, but how long must this sacrifice last? The citizens are already bearing the brunt of devastating economic policies, with no respite in sight. Meanwhile, corruption festers unchecked across all levels of government. What meaningful steps have been taken to address this systemic issue? In today’s speech, the president failed to address key issues, notably inflation and the rising exchange rate, which directly impact the purchasing power of ordinary citizens. These omissions leave us questioning the federal government’s understanding of the daily struggles Nigerians face. The removal of the fuel subsidy on May 30, 2024, as pronounced by the president, triggered an unsustainable rise in fuel prices, making transportation, food production, and energy costs increasingly unbearable for ordinary Nigerians. Citizens are yet to recover from this shock, and instead, they face continuous suffering. The current reform by the President mirrors the devastating policies of past regimes, particularly those during the Abacha era, which left scars that we are still trying to heal from. President Tinubu’s purported “achievements” have not yet led to tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians. On the contrary, there are growing concerns about threats to life, heightened insecurity, and rising inequality.
“While ActionAid Nigeria acknowledges the military’s recent victories, issues surrounding the banditry in the Northwest remain largely unattended. Bandits continue to terrorise communities, displace families, and destroy livelihoods. These violent acts have left many Nigerians vulnerable and in constant fear. Shockingly, the President made no mention of this in his speech, ignoring the devastation that banditry has caused. The government must act swiftly to address the ongoing violence in the Northwest, providing security and protection for the citizens who have been left voiceless and unsupported. In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan spent millions of Naira convening a national conference with representatives from various communities and groups, including youths, to deliberate on national issues. To date, both federal and state governments have failed to take action on the recommendations from that conference. Now we hear of another planned youth conference by the federal government. While it is being promoted as an opportunity for dialogue, hundreds of Nigerian youths remain imprisoned for exercising their democratic right to protest, while hundred more are on the streets protesting today. The conference must begin with the unconditional release of all detained protesters. Furthermore, the conference should not be a selective gathering for politically affiliated youth groups such as APC loyalists. The conference must be open to Nigerian youths from all backgrounds and regions, ensuring that representatives from every part of the country participate and the results from it must be implemented.
“Nigerians have been speaking out, using various platforms to express their frustrations and concerns. Protests, public demonstrations, and widespread conversations on social media are clear indicators of the people’s dissatisfaction. Yet, the President and his administration remain distant and unresponsive to these cries for change. It is time for the government to truly listen to the people. Nigerians are tired of being told to “be patient” while their realities grow bleaker by the day. Nigerians need more than promises. We need tangible changes that will lead to affordable and improved living standards, security, and justice. Until then, ActionAid Nigeria stands in solidarity with the citizens, demanding that the government listen and act in the true interest of the people. We call for reforms that reflect the lived realities of everyday Nigerians and promote inclusivity, equity, and sustainability in governance. In Solidarity.”
Also Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, Arc Nnimmo Bassey “the president has a lot of advisers and it is clear that he is listening to them. It is hard to add anything with the believe that one would be heard. The challenge one has in interpreting his message is that we do not know what permutations he and his advisers are making. In a space of two months the President has made speeches that do not address the most basic demands of struggling Nigerians, but merely defends unpopular policies. “Three of the key issues of contention include the _floating_ of the Naira, the high cost of petroleum products even when a refinery is finally working in Nigeria, and thirdly the high electricity tariffs. The President could easily have said that prices of petroleum products would be markedly reduced as significant volumes of the products no longer be imported. Or is the territory on which the refinery is located no longer a part of Nigeria?”
While speaking on the proposed youth confab by President Bola Tinubu, he (Bassey) declared that, “While having a conference of youths on national issues is a good idea, it is difficult to see why the conference would last a month. Who will listen to a month long conference of the youths when ten days of protest was met with arrests and detentions? Why couldn’t the President have announced that charges against peaceful demonstrators would be dropped? Who will act on the outcomes of the youth conference? We wait to see the guidelines for such a conference, especially on what would be the no go areas.”
Meanwhile, he also queried the divestment issues the President mentioned in his speech, “It is shocking to hear the president bring up the issues of ExxonMobil’s divestment into an Independence Day speech. The specious divestment raises serious questions about the legacy pollutions oil companies have foisted on Nigeria. What we heard didn’t sound helpful at all. Who bears the responsibility for over six decades of extreme pollution in the Niger Delta?” However, he pointed out that, “Independence Days are great opportunities for rehearsing national ideals and triggering commitments to such ideals. Hopefully that will happen one day.
“Hopefully next celebrations would not be days of rage, pain, anguish, exasperation or fear, but days of rising patriotic fervour.”
The Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani, in reacting to the President’s Independence Day broadcast, said the President needs to take governance more seriously. Rafsanjani said: “We urge the President to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps toward meaningful dialogue with Nigerians. Citizens are seeking immediate relief from the harsh economic and social conditions they face daily under this administration. People are struggling to survive, and they need to see swift and impactful measures that improve their quality of life and security. Nigeria’s image requires urgent restoration both nationally and internationally. We used to be a respected nation, but today, we are perceived as a hub for terrorism, corruption, and mismanagement of public resources.
“The government’s failure to effectively combat terrorism, rescue women and children from captivity, and tackle systemic corruption and impunity has eroded the respect we once held. The Nigerian people deserve leadership that is responsive, accountable, and capable of delivering development and prosperity. As we celebrate 64 years of independence, let us work together to restore our nation’s dignity, both at home and abroad.” Executive Director, Africa Network for Environmental and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor, said, “The President’s speech is a welcome development but the attempt to downplay the No to Bad Governance protest is very unfortunate and it reinforces the disrespect for democracy. No democracy will function without an enabling environment for citizens to exercise their right to protest. If the President fail to acknowledge the value of recognizing the voice of the people that will not be good for our Country.
“I have gone through the President’s speech which touched on several policies particularly on Job creation, the integrity test for Dam, Exxon Mobil divestment, Economic Stabilization Bill , energy transition via CNG buses and the Nigerian Education Loan fund.
I will like to commend the President for the bold decision for trying to convey national youth conference to engage the youth which look good. We should hope that this initiatives are followed up with concrete action plans that will build trust with the people. The Executive Director, Global Rights Nigeria, Abiodun Baiyewu said, “Typical of his speeches, this was not any different. It was full of platitudes, with a lot of self back-patting. He generously awarded his administration high marks, forgetting that in our democratic system, the only grades that matter are those given by the citizens. Oblivious of our currently realities and the mood of the country, he decided Nigerians can proudly pronounce that they are achieving the dreams of their founding fathers. I doubt our forefathers envisioned a Nigeria as a nation with such inequity and governance ineptitude, in which people endure so much hardship! In the troughs of our trust deficit occasioned by weak institutions and the failures of the political class, he interpreted our collective trauma as that we Nigerians being “united”. We pray and work toward a united Nigeria, but it is disingenuous to claim we are basking in unity. Even during the protests against widespread hunger, there was still discrimination against Igbos in Lagos, and our rethorics are more than ever coloured in ethnic and religious divisiveness.
“Mr. President also mentioned that we are winning the war against insurgency and insecurity. This doesn’t match the reality on the ground. This year alone, Nigeria Mourns tracking shows that _at least_ 4,011 people were killed and at the very least, 4,339 were abducted as of August 2024. He also, for the umpteenth time, asked Nigerians to be patient while his economic reforms kick into high gear.
“The speech noticeably lacked any mention of what steps the government is taking to reduce the high cost of governance. On the other hand, he has increased the number of ministries and has continued to exorbitantly increase government spending. Nigerians have been patient for 16 months while things have progressively worsened. Many Nigerians can barely afford to feed themselves. When people decided to protest the extraordinarily high cost of living and suffering, Tinubu’s administration gagged them, put them in jail and prosecuted them for treason. It had a lining of positivity to it. I appreciate that he expressed a determination to adhere to the judgment of the apex court on local government autonomy.
“Global Rights applauds the fact that he acknowledged that the youth need to be more involved in governance and its decision making processes. Whether the National Youth Conference he is calling for is the best route to take is open for discussion. Historically, these sorts of conferences have not inspired significant change. What modalities will be used to select the youth to participate in the process? What will their charge be, and what are the expected outcomes of the conference? With our current economic state, we cannot afford to waste already scarce resources on a conference that achieves nothing.”
“Stop with the platitudes and backslapping and get to work on reducing the cost of living. The current economic situation is a powder keg. It has already led to protests that the government went to undemocratic lengths to suppress. If this trend continues, I fear for us. The Nigerian people will not tolerate leaders who ask them to tighten their belts while making no serious effort to tighten theirs. Also, respect the rule of law and human rights. Ensure the independence of the courts and of law enforcement. His administration should desist from dissipating its energies quashing dissent, jailing peaceful protesters and its unwarranted attacks on civic actors and the media. This is a way to prove that he understands the fundamentals of democratic governance. These moves will engender some goodwill amongst even his fiercest critics.”
