Nigeria Remains a Viable Democracy Project Despite Challenges, Says Government.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, stated that Nigeria remains a large and viable project that is still evolving, and that reforms are underway to tackle the country’s challenges.

Akume made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja during a national press conference organized to mark the 2026 Democracy Day celebration.

He said the administration of President Bola Tinubu would not claim to have solved all of the nation’s problems, but it is committed to pursuing reforms with diligence, purpose and compassion.

“The message from government today is straightforward. This administration wishes to let us all recognise the fact that Nigeria is a huge, viable project and it is a work in progress,” he said.

“While we pursue various reforms diligently, with purpose and compassion, government recognises that inflation has been painful, though it is on a downward trend,” Akume added.

He acknowledged that insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods but noted that the president shares the pains of Nigerians and that the administration’s efforts are already producing positive results.

According to the SGF, evidence shows the country is moving in the right direction, with confidence, market activity and productive exchanges responding positively to ongoing reforms.

The SGF also highlighted the Tinubu administration’s three‑year implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on economic recovery, stability, social welfare, security, human capital development, healthcare, food security and infrastructure development.

He said the Democracy Day commemoration offers an opportunity for government to account for its stewardship and demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles.

Akume congratulated Nigerians on 27 uninterrupted years of democratic governance, describing the achievement as one of the few sustained democratic experiences on the African continent.

He praised citizens for their resilience and patriotism despite prevailing economic and social challenges.

On the economy, the SGF noted that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) remained in positive territory over the last two quarters.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed real GDP grew by 4.07 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 3.89 percent in the first quarter of 2026.

He highlighted fiscal reforms introduced by the administration, including the signing of four major tax reform laws in June 2025 aimed at simplifying compliance, improving fairness and strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation.

Regarding social protection, Akume said the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, targeting 15 million households, had reached more than three million vulnerable households as of August 2025.

He added that the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme, CreditCorp and other intervention programmes had recorded significant successes across the country.

The SGF emphasized that healthcare remains a top priority for the administration, noting that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act has expanded the legal framework for wider health coverage.

He said resources have been provided to support more than 8,000 primary healthcare centres nationwide, with plans to expand coverage to 13,000 facilities.

Akume further said the Student Loan Scheme has surpassed one million beneficiaries, with over N184 billion disbursed in loans and upkeep allowances through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

He also noted that anti‑corruption agencies have continued to record successes in asset recovery and prosecution of corruption‑related cases.

According to him, Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List in October 2025 reflected the administration’s commitment to strengthening anti‑money laundering and counter‑terrorism financing frameworks.

On security, Akume said the government remains committed to protecting lives and property through enhanced funding, recruitment and capacity building for the armed forces and other security agencies.

He said the administration is also leveraging diplomacy and regional cooperation to address emerging security threats.

While acknowledging that insecurity has not been completely eliminated, the SGF called on Nigerians to support security agencies by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities.

He stressed the need for national unity, religious tolerance and social cohesion, saying democracy can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and mutual trust.

Akume noted that the Federal Executive Council approved the National Values Charter to promote discipline, citizenship, tolerance, reciprocity and service among Nigerians.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, he said the administration will continue to consolidate ongoing reforms and scale up programmes that are yielding positive results.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to accountability and urged Nigerians to assess the administration based on evidence and measurable outcomes.

According to him, the Democracy Day commemoration provides an opportunity for citizens to interrogate the government’s performance and strengthen democratic governance in the country. (NAN)

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