The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to assume immediate responsibility for completing the abandoned National Library of Nigeria project in Abuja. The party’s appeal follows First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s announcement that she would support the library’s completion as part of her birthday celebrations. While welcoming the First Lady’s gesture, the ADC stressed that the National Library—established by an Act of Parliament in 1964—is a national monument that should not depend on private charity.
The ADC highlighted the library’s role as the custodian of Nigeria’s collective memory and intellectual heritage, arguing that its completion and long‑term maintenance must be a priority. The party insisted that transparent, sustainable and predictable national funding, rather than goodwill donations, is essential to support the institution. It noted that the library’s significance goes beyond its physical structure; it is a repository of the country’s story, culture, research and knowledge production.
Although appreciative of the First Lady’s attention to the neglected project, the ADC emphasized that presidential involvement is required to ensure its completion. The party suggested that the First Lady use her influence to impress upon President Tinubu the urgency of allocating budgetary funds for the library. It pointed out that responsibility for funding was shifted to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), resulting in no direct budgetary allocations for the library in the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
The ADC reiterated that the National Library of Nigeria is too important to be treated as an afterthought or to rely on individual benevolence. It thanked the First Lady for drawing attention to the project and urged the Federal Government to prioritize the library’s completion through national budgetary provisions, thereby ensuring its long‑term sustainability and preserving Nigeria’s intellectual heritage for future generations.
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