What will you do to improve police welfare and working conditions, and will you create a separate police pension scheme?

The commencement of public protests across the country yesterday is noteworthy. These demonstrations have opened a vital channel for the public to express disapproval of government policies, furthering the essential conversation about good governance in our nation. For the most part, protesters have conducted themselves with admirable peace and must be commended for their restraint and dedication. However, in some isolated instances, there have been reports of violence, leading to regrettable clashes and brutalities by the police. I urge the protesters to maintain their peaceful stance and call on more Nigerians to show solidarity and support for the #EndBadGovernance peaceful protest. This is a pivotal moment for our collective voice to be heard, and it must be done with dignity and respect for the law. I also call on the police to engage more professionally in managing these protests. The needless killing of innocent citizens by security agencies is unacceptable. The police must refrain from the molestation of journalists who are merely reporting the protest. It is imperative that security agencies exercise restraint while enforcing law and order.

I am heartened by the acknowledgement made by the Nigerian Army regarding the tragic incident that resulted in the loss of a young protester's life. I also urge for thorough investigations into other instances of violence perpetrated by the military, police, and other security agencies during these protests, in the spirit of accountability. The decision to detain the soldier responsible for this unfortunate incident marks a commendable step towards accountability and preserving the rule of law. I have consistently advised the service chiefs and military commanders that the use of lethal force against peaceful protesters must not be authorized. Upholding the principle of accountability is paramount, and the actions taken by the Nigerian Army in apprehending and, hopefully, prosecuting the soldier responsible for this incident align with this fundamental principle. Even amidst conflicts, it is crucial to adhere to rules of engagement. Soldiers should not be deployed to suppress civil rights protests. -AA

A Message to Nigerian Workers. On this Workers' Day, I want to speak directly to the men and women who wake up every morning and go to work in spite of everything: the civil servants who have not received their full entitlements, the traders whose goods no one can afford to buy, the factory workers whose employers are closing shop, the teachers and medical personnel holding together systems that government is failing to adequately fund. You are not invisible. Your suffering is not a statistic. It is real, it is documented, and it is a direct consequence of a trial-and-error policy choices made by those entrusted with the responsibility to serve you. Nigeria's working people did not cause this crisis. They did not vote for impoverishment. They voted for hope, and that hope was taken from them. They deserve leadership that spends the nation's resources on their welfare, not on opaque mega-projects that serve the well-connected. They deserve a government that measures its success by their living standards, not by the size of its spending, the growth of its debt, or the breadth of its patronage networks. Nigeria can and must do better. The resources exist. The talent exists. What is lacking is the will to govern for all Nigerians rather than for the few.

Again, Bola, you told Nigerians that salaries and pensions are being paid “on time and in full.” Tell that to the military pensioners who protested over unpaid adjustments. Tell it to federal workers who have reported delayed salaries, wage awards and promotion arrears. A pensioner standing outside a government office to demand what is owed does not need a lecture about prosperity. Pay the outstanding entitlements, publish what remains unpaid, and stop claiming that everyone has been paid in full. A growing government account is not a recovering Nigerian. A speech about prosperity is not prosperity. Show Nigerians where the savings went. Show them the relief. Or stop calling their pain a cure. Our independence also demands political freedom. Nigerians must be free to question their leaders, organise peacefully and demand change. Public office belongs to the people. No President owns the voices of citizens.

INTRODUCTION Nigeria is at a defining moment where the choice is no longer between reform and stagnation, but between a system that works for the people and one that continues to fail them. For too long, economic reforms have come at the expense of the people, governance has drifted away from accountability, and systems meant to serve citizens have instead constrained opportunity. This manifesto is built on a clear and deliberate philosophy: that the purpose of government is to work for the people and that reform must deliver real improvements in everyday life. Its goals are simple and urgent: i) to end insecurity across the nation; ii) bring down the cost of living; iii) create more opportunities for Nigerians, and iv) ensure strict adherence to the rule of law. This manifesto is anchored on three fundamental principles: i) That every policy, from economic reform to security to social protection, must be measured by its impact on citizens; ii) That Nigeria's challenges are structural and require coordinated, institutional solutions, not ad hoc interventions; and iii) That reform is necessary, but it must be sequenced, supported, and humane, ensuring that Nigerians are not pushed further into hardship in the process.

2. Reform and reorient the police into a true public service. Transition from a colonial-style, regime-protection force to a citizen-focused policing system. 3. Demilitarize the police. Details: ● Gradually end police barracks as the default system of accommodation ● Decentralize deployment by assigning mid- to lower-level officers closer to their states of residence 4. Establish clear controls around arrests and detention. Details: ● Mandatory use of body cameras and installation of cameras in interrogation rooms ● Clear and enforceable guidelines on the use of force and firearms 5. Decentralize Policing and Strengthen Democratic Security Governance We will establish a multi-layered security system that reflects Nigeria's federal structure, improves response times, and ensures accountability at all levels. Details: