The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Federal Government to take full responsibility for completing the National Library of Nigeria project, insisting that such a critical national institution should not depend on private charity.
The party’s reaction followed remarks by First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, who announced her intention to support the completion of the library as part of her birthday celebrations.
While appreciating her gesture, the ADC cautioned that the library must not be reduced to a personal initiative.
In a statement signed on Wednesday, September 3, by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said, “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) acknowledges and appreciates the thoughtful gesture of the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, in drawing attention to the abandoned National Library of Nigeria project in Abuja as part of her birthday celebrations.
“However, as a responsible party, we must firmly state that the National Library of Nigeria cannot, and must not, be reduced to the status of a personal pet project of any individual, no matter how well-intentioned.”
The ADC emphasised that the library, established by an Act of Parliament in 1964, is “a living repository of our collective memory and intellectual heritage.
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“It is the custodian of Nigeria’s story, culture, research, and knowledge production. It is not just another building.”
The statement continued, “Now that Mrs. Tinubu has shown interest in the National Library, what is required is not personal charity, but presidential attention.
“The First Lady should use her influence to impress upon President Tinubu the urgency of completing this project through budgetary allocations.”
The party criticised the absence of direct allocations for the library in the 2024 and 2025 budgets, warning, “A nation’s intellectual heritage cannot rest on acts of benevolence, while being deliberately neglected in the appropriation process.”
While thanking the First Lady for her concern, the ADC ended its statement with, “However, with all due respect, ‘No ma!’”