On Friday, May 30, 2025, the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) issued a scathing critique of Nigeria’s democratic institutions under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, coinciding with the 8th anniversary of Professor Abubakar Momoh’s passing and the 26th anniversary of Nigeria’s return to democracy. Executive Director Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi warned that the erosion of democratic principles—rule of law, separation of powers, and accountable leadership—contradicts the legacy of Momoh, a revered scholar and activist. CHRICED highlighted the executive’s dominance, describing the National Assembly as a “rubber-stamp” institution and the judiciary as compromised by questionable rulings, undermining democratic checks and balances.
CHRICED criticized the National Assembly’s legislative inefficiency, noting that only 23 of over 800 proposed bills were enacted in two years, with executive-driven bills like the National Anthem Bill prioritized over critical ones like the Food Pricing Bill and Electoral Reform Bill. The organization slammed Tinubu’s neoliberal economic policies, influenced by global financial institutions, for exacerbating poverty (46% of Nigerians, per World Bank 2024) and inequality, with inflation at 33.9% and unemployment at 5.3% (NBS). Zikirullahi invoked Momoh’s advocacy for citizen-focused development, urging social interventions to mitigate economic hardship.
The statement decried the erosion of free speech, manipulated elections, and “commodification of justice,” asserting that democracy has failed to deliver for Nigerians facing insecurity (1,356 kidnappings in 2024, SBM Intelligence) and economic woes. CHRICED called on Tinubu to honor Momoh’s legacy by restoring democratic integrity, emphasizing vigilance, justice, and accountability. Posts on X echo CHRICED’s concerns, with users like @SaharaReporters and @EiENigeria highlighting legislative subservience and economic distress, though some defend Tinubu’s reforms as long-term solutions.
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