President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to redouble their efforts in bringing governance closer to the people and accelerating development at the grassroots.
The President issued the charge during the 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, held on Thursday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He noted that despite ongoing efforts by the APC-led administration, many Nigerians at the grassroots still feel disconnected from the dividends of democracy.
“We need to do more. Nigerians are still complaining at the grassroots,” the President said. “You, the governors, have to wet the ground and give more dividends of democracy at the grassroots. We must not rest. Our people need to feel the impact of government more directly.”
Emphasizing that the real strength and long-term survival of the APC rest on its performance at the community level, Tinubu maintained that the grassroots is where citizens interact directly with government policies, programs, and service delivery.
He urged the party’s leadership at all levels to reconnect with the people and demonstrate renewed commitment to solving their challenges. According to him, delivering visible results at the local level would strengthen public confidence in both the party and the administration.
In a related development, President Tinubu expressed appreciation for the overwhelming votes of confidence passed on him by party stakeholders across various geopolitical zones. However, he stressed that such symbolic gestures must now be translated into practical actions.
“I accept the confidence vote expressed today and the ones already expressed at the zonal centres,” he said. “But we must now translate that trust into action. We must strengthen our chapters and build unity within the party.”
The President further announced plans to construct a new national headquarters for the party in the Federal Capital Territory. He described the current office complex — Muhammadu Buhari House in Wuse II — as insufficient to meet the party’s evolving needs.
“We’ll look for an appropriate land to build a befitting secretariat,” Tinubu said, highlighting his administration’s intention to institutionalize party management through the development of modern infrastructure.
The existing party secretariat, located at 40 Blantyre Street in Abuja’s Wuse II District, was reportedly acquired at the cost of N2.5 billion and named in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Though it has served as the venue for many NEC meetings in the past, Thursday’s gathering was moved to the State House for what officials described as strategic and operational reasons.
The NEC meeting was attended by top-ranking members of the APC, including Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; and Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.
Also present were APC governors, former governors, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other senior party chieftains and stakeholders, who gathered to deliberate on key party matters and strategies as the APC prepares for the political road ahead.