Tinubu’s Independence Day Address: The Promise of Prosperity and questions left unanswered

Mr President, on this Independence Day, your address presents an optimistic journey from challenging reforms to a future of prosperity. The focus on the cost of living, food production, jobs, industry, and opportunity resonates with the concerns of regular Nigerians. However, the speech leaves some significant questions unanswered.

One glaring omission is security. While the speech acknowledges the service of the Armed Forces and security forces, it falls short in addressing the threats Nigerians face and how the government plans to tackle them. Families concerned about insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, and the safety of their farms and roads desire more than mere gratitude; they seek assurance about the changes in the government's response, the measures to protect communities, and the criteria for measuring progress.

The promise of increased agricultural production is closely linked to the farmer's safety in reaching and working the land. A tractor is useful, but a safe journey to the farm is equally important. The speech also downplays corruption and the quality of public governance. These issues are not secondary concerns on the path to prosperity.

Corruption can siphon money intended for essential services like roads, schools, hospitals, and security. Weak oversight can hinder even well-designed programs from reaching their intended beneficiaries. Nigerians would have appreciated a clear statement on how public funds will be safeguarded, how procurement will be transparent, and how officials misusing public resources will be held accountable.

Another governance-related question is how the promised transition from reform to prosperity will be managed. The speech outlines optimistic goals, but offers few measurable targets or timelines. It does not elaborate on how federal, state, and local governments will collaborate on crucial areas such as basic education, primary healthcare, security, and social protection, nor how citizens will assess the outcomes.

Government cannot achieve shared prosperity through mere declarations; it requires capable institutions, reliable public services, transparent reporting, and consequences when objectives are not met.

National cohesion could have been given more attention. Although the speech urges Nigerians to move forward together, unity is fortified when leaders acknowledge the divisions, mistrust, and feelings of exclusion that can erode national unity. An Independence Day message could have addressed the need for fairness among regions and communities, equal citizenship, responsible public debate, and confidence in the institutions that sustain the federation.

The speech warmly mentions young people, jobs, and opportunity, but should have directly addressed the extent of unemployment, underemployment, and the skills gap. References to education loans and consumer credit are relevant, yet credit alone does not create dependable work required for repayment. Health, education, housing, and the challenges faced by low-income families would have added more substance to a speech about prosperity.

The economic case would have been more compelling with a candid account of the hardships citizens have endured and a clearer method to determine if those burdens are alleviating.

While the speech acknowledges the strides made in reforms, it recognizes that stabilization is a prerequisite, not the end goal. For many households, immediate hardships persist. The envisioned new era will gain credibility when citizens observe a decline in food and transportation costs, an increase in real incomes, improved public services, and assistance reaching those in need.

The central promise is promising: that reform will lead to prosperity shared across the nation. To lend weight to this promise, the government should present a public scorecard with clear targets, timelines, and regular progress reports covering security, household welfare, employment, public services, and the integrity of public spending.

Nigerians do not anticipate one Independence Day address to resolve every national issue. They do expect it to demonstrate that their most pressing concerns have been heard and that the government understands how it will address them. Mr President, the speech conveys hope and a call to progress. The next step is to demonstrate, through both policy and public reporting, how the country will navigate this path securely, equitably, and transparently.

The economic trajectory may be heading in the right direction; however, the family table, the farm, and the neighborhood must soon validate it. Happy Independence Day to Nigeria and to all Nigerians. "Suleyman A. Ndanusa, PhD, OON, is an economist, lawyer, strategic studies scholar, and public policy thinker and practitioner with extensive experience in financial markets, regulation, governance, national Security and development."