President Tinubu's Address: Honoring Democracy, Acknowledging Economic Pains, and Promising Reforms

Yesterday, June 12, 2024, President Tinubu addressed the nation as we celebrate 25 years of democracy. As is customary for the president on this occasion, here are the highlights of his speech:

He began by congratulating Nigerians on achieving 25 years of uninterrupted democratic rule and 31 years since the transition to democracy. He honored Nigerians who lost their lives in the fight for democracy and acknowledged those who were in exile, pushing the fight for democracy, and those who sustained it locally. He specifically mentioned M.K.O. Abiola, a significant symbol of our democratic struggle.

President Tinubu proceeded to address the role of journalists in the fight against military rule and how they ensured the military understood the will of Nigerians. He mentioned media houses such as The Punch, The Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News & Tempo, and Tell Magazines, stating, "the undemocratic government of the day proscribed these media establishments and jailed their journalists for standing for free speech, civil liberties, and the sanctity of the June 12 elections."

He highlighted key issues facing the country, particularly the economy, and expressed his empathy for the pains of Nigerians. He said, "Our economy has been in desperate need of reforms for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on flawed foundations and over-reliance on revenue from the exploitation of oil." He explained that the reforms initiated are intended to create stronger and better conditions for future growth. "There's no doubt that reform has occasioned hardship—I feel your pains—yet they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunities, fair pay, and compensation for their endeavors and labor."

He mentioned negotiating in good faith with organized labor on a new national minimum wage and that an Executive bill would be sent to the National Assembly to formalize the agreement. He clarified that the government is not attempting to oppress or crack down on workers as dictatorial regimes might have done, despite labor's call for a strike, emphasizing that the government has chosen cooperation over conflict.

President Tinubu concluded his speech with a quote from former U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt: "There are many ways of going forward but only one way of standing still." He assured that his government knows the proper way forward and appealed to Nigerians to join in moving the country forward.

Bina Jesse