He committed to bringing an executive measure to the National Assembly as quickly as possible, which would codify the agreements reached into law for the next five years or fewer.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed concern over purported attempts by certain individuals to take advantage of the nation’s current economic difficulties in order to weaken and destroy democracy.
Nonetheless, the President pledged to uphold democracy and safeguard Nigerians’ rights, liberties, and freedoms.
He continued by saying that the Federal Government engaged organised labour in sincere negotiations on a new national minimum wage.
He committed to bringing an executive measure to the National Assembly as quickly as possible, which would codify the agreements reached into law for the next five years or fewer.
In his nationwide broadcast, today on Democracy Day, the President noted that some persons sacrificed their lives to ensure that democratic government was put in place about 25 years ago.
His words: “My dear compatriots, Nigeria faced a decision of untold gravity 25 years ago: Whether to veer towards a better destination or continue aimlessly in the fog of dictatorship.
“We made the right choice then. We must continue with that choice now.
“As Nigerians, we must remind ourselves that no matter how complicated democracy may be, it is the best form of governance in the long run. We must also be aware that there are those among us who will try to exploit current challenges to undermine, if not destroy, this democracy for which so much has already been given.
“These people do this not to make things better but to subject all other people and things to their control and dominance until the point that, if you are not counted among their elite, then your life will be small and no longer owned by you.
“This is the great battle of our day and the major reason we specially celebrate this Democracy day.”
The President said that Nigeria’s democracy is more than a historic fact, noting that it is a living, breathing reality.
He further said that the true meaning of the day is not to focus solely on the great deeds of the past that have brought the country to her present point.
He said: “Yes, we pay eternal honour to those who laid down their lives, sacrificing everything to pave the way for the nation.
“I stand uniquely placed in this regard. I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts.
“As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance. I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria.
“Even more than that, I pledge to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life.
“I come before you also to declare that our most important work remains before us. This real test has never been whether we would rise to challenge the slings of misfortune and grievous pain of dictatorship.
“The real test is whether we shall lower our guards as the shadow of despotism and its evident physical danger fade.”
President Tinubu had earlier urged the citizenry and leaders to recommit to the values of inclusivity, accountability and transparency to guarantee an enduring democracy.
President Tinubu said after 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, it was time for all Nigerians to partake “in building a nation where every voice is heard, where every potential is realised, and where every citizen is empowered to contribute to the collective good.”
The President, who spoke during the 2024 Democracy Day Lecture at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, noted that at this point of the nation’s democratic journey, every Nigerian, irrespective of background, must be given a chance to contribute to the nation’s shared destiny.
The president spoke as a host of leaders and groups dissected Nigeria’s democracy since the June 12, episode and offered suggestions on the way forward.
With a series of activities mapped out to celebrate June 12 by The Patriots, state governments, especially in the South-West, and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, notable Nigerians and groups, who spoke on June 12, yesterday, included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU; International Press Centre, IPC, among others.
This happened as the Federal Government declared today as a public holiday with the Department of State Service, DSS, warned those planning to embark on June 12 protest to have a re-think or face the consequences.
We must entrench flourishing democracy – Tinubu
President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the lessons learned after 25 years is that democracy is a journey that must be constantly nurtured and watched closely.
His words: “Our progress has been marked by both triumphs and trials, each serving as a reminder of the preciousness of our democratic principles. As we move forward, let us recommit to the values of inclusivity, accountability, and transparency, ensuring that our democracy not only endures but flourishes for generations to come.
“The future of Nigeria lies in our hands, in our ability to dream, innovate, and act with courage and conviction. Let us embrace this moment with a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that the path we tread today will shape the Nigeria of tomorrow.
“This is an invitation for each of us to participate in building a nation where every voice is heard, where every potential is realised, and where every citizen is empowered to contribute to the collective good.”
President Tinubu observed that sustaining democracy for 25 years, the longest in the country’s checkered history is evidence of “the enduring sacrifices of several generations of patriots.”
Passing his verdict on the democratic journey so far, the President declared that 25 years was time enough to ascertain the effectiveness of any experiment.
He said, “Our democratic experience, despite the lows and the highs, is a telling referendum on our aspiration to build a nation that serves the interests of all, a federation that has not conspired against any benign group.
“We are here because the alternative is a descent into dystopia. Today is a moment to reflect on our journey so far. The tragedies Nigeria survived to settle for this democracy, the fourth of such experiments, must inspire each of us to play our part to honour the labour of our founding fathers and mothers and remind ourselves of the principles that drove their resolve to build for us a diverse nation that has defied the pessimism of detached agents of anarchy.”