Independence Anniversary: Your sacrifices won’t be in vain, Shettima tells Nigerians… 

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday said that the sacrifices of Nigerians will not be in vain.

Speaking at a public lecture to commemorate Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary at the presidential villa in Abuja, he assured that the promises made by the Bola Tinubu administration will be fulfilled.

According to him, the administration is committed to building a country where the economic independence of each citizen is guaranteed, and where none of them has to depend on unspecified handouts to earn a living.

Shettima noted that while this anniversary offers Nigeria another opportunity to acknowledge the cross-regional bonds that have kept the country standing as Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, “we are here to remind ourselves that the future we promised Nigerians isn’t an empty performance for electoral favours.”

The vice president noted that the future of a great nation is not determined by the occurrence of a socio-economic challenge but by the intention, sincerity, and innovative ideas of its leaders, and their commitment to implementing them.

On the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Shettima pointed out that “the tragedy reminded us that viruses do not discriminate based on ethnicity or religion and that our strength as a nation is driven by our collective faith in the ideals that define us and in the moral character of our leaders.”

He emphasised the crucial role of leadership in shaping a nation’s destiny, stating that “the future of a great nation rests on the intention, sincerity, and innovative ideas of its leaders and their commitment to implementing them.”

The vice president also recognized the sacrifices made by Nigerians over the years, noting that such solidarity has inspired the government to focus on diverse sectors, from agriculture to digital technology, from healthcare to education.

Shettima also asserted that “at 63, we recognize that what has sustained us and propelled us forward is our collective belief that overcoming the challenges we’ve inherited necessitates sacrifices.”

He reiterated that these sacrifices are investments in a brighter future, one that will secure the well-being of current and future generations.

Earlier in his address, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas called on the Federal Government to consider increasing the salary of workers to mitigate the current economic situation in the country.

He advised the administration to build on the existing synergy among the different arms of government to provide the needed democracy dividends to Nigerians.