President Bola Tinubu has said that he will soon send the 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.
Tinubu disclosed this while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly in the House of Representatives Chambers on Wednesday to mark Nigeria’s 25th anniversary of unbroken democratic rule.
Accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, among others, the President said Nigerians must build a nation for generations unborn.
“Our friends, old and new, to every Nigerian, I say congratulations for 25 years of unbroken democracy. Out of respect, I come to say thank you very much for bringing us to this stage. For building the institution, for building this country.
“You are first and foremost leaders that speak for our people. And you have been in the forefront of this institution. The hallowed chambers represent our consciousness for freedom and sense of belonging.
“You see, this is our diversity representing all parts and how we blend together to be brothers and sisters. Without this House, probably I may not find the path to the presidency. I started off from here. And that is why I am giving my respect this morning to you, to please continue to collaborate, work together, build our country.
“We have no other choice. It’s our nation. No one, no age, no other institution or personality will help us except we do it ourselves. No amount of aids that may be coming from foreign countries or any other nation, they take care of themselves first. So let us work together to build our nation, not only for us but for generations yet unborn.
“I will soon bring the 2024 Appropriation Bill, that is just for your information. But we must nourish this democracy, build this nation so that the future of our great grandchildren will be sure of prosperity, development and progress,” Tinubu said.
In his welcome address, the President of the Senate and chairman of the National Assembly, Godswill Akpabio, announced that President Tinubu has officially signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, thereby reverting to Nigeria’s old national anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”
Akpabio noted that the President only stopped over to greet the lawmakers since he came to commission the National Assembly Library building.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, said the President’s visit to the joint session of the National Assembly was to flag off the recitation of the new national anthem after giving assent to the Bill.
“The president has said that whatever speech we have to give should be shifted to June 12 which is Democracy Day, so to this effect the president will flag off the recitation of the new national anthem after giving assent to it and will the after proceed to other important engagements,” he said.
President Tinubu and his entourage joined members of the National Assembly in singing the new National Anthem; “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” before the adjournment of the session.
Thereafter, the president proceeded to inaugurate the National Assembly Library Complex named after him – Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu Building.
