As 2022 comes to a close, Nigerians are already looking forward to what the new year 2023 holds. Here we take a peep into some major events that are likely to define Nigeria in the new year.
Redesigned Naira notes
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) redesigned the N200, N500 and N1000 denominations of the Naira in 2022 to phase out old the old banknotes from circulation in 2023. The apex bank pegged the deadline for January 31st.
This is even as the CBN took the cashless policy in the country some giant steps forward by announcing withdrawal limits for individuals and corporate entities. According to the CBN, from January 9, 2023, the amounts individuals and corporate organisations could withdraw per week would not exceed N500,000 and N5 million for individuals and corporate accounts respectively.
Redesigning the Naira notes and the cash withdrawal limits generated a buzz in the country and many have said the policies will no doubt have an impact on the 2023 general election and on businesses in the country, going forward.
While, the Senate has urged the apex bank to urgently extend the withdrawal date of old currency notes from January 31, 2023 to June 31, the CBN’s Naira redesign and cash withdrawal limits will definitely continue to make wave in 2023.
2023 General Election
The General Election will be the major defining moment in Nigeria in 2023. Federal and States elections would be held.
The presidential election will be held on 25 February 2023 to elect the President and Vice President. Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari is ineligible to run, being term-limited.
The President of Nigeria is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive a majority of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least 24 of the 36 states. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of states.
Based on polls so far published on the 2023 presidential election, a rerun is likely. Even the election management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed preparedness for a second round.
The top candidates for the election are Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Meanwhile, elections to the Senate and the House of Representatives will also be held on the same date. The 109 members of the Senate are elected from 109 single-seat constituencies, three in each state and one for the Federal Capital Territory, by first-past-the-post voting. The 360 members of the House of Representatives are also elected by first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies.
Meanwhile, state elections to elect governors and members of the State Houses of Assembly will be held two weeks after the federal elections on 11 March.
Aside from the general election, governorship elections would be held differently for Bayelsa and Kogi States.
Immediately following the elections, would be the setting up of election petitions tribunals.
Chatham House Interview of Peter Obi, Atiku, Kwankwaso
Prior to the 2023 elections, the candidate of the Labour Party for the presidential election, Mr Peter Obi will speak at Chatham House on the 2023 elections and political developments in the country.
The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and also the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso have also been scheduled to take their turns to speak at Chatham House.
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Bola Tinubu has had his turn at Chatham House in a series of meetings leading up to the 2023 general election.
Also, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu has been scheduled to speak at Chatham House.
These events will take place in January 2023.
Handover/Inauguration of New Government
By May 2023, following the General Election, all heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies would have concluded their handover notes. The winners of the elections will be inaugurated on 29 May 2023, the former date of Democracy Day.
New governments are inaugurated in Nigeria on May 29 every four years since the restoration of democracy in the country in 1999.
National Population Census
For the first time in over 15 years, Nigeria will conduct a National Population Census in 2023.
The 2023 Census is expected to be a detailed enumeration of the Nigerian population that will be the fifth national census in the country since its Independence. It will be the first national census held since the 2006 census.
Over N190 billion have been allocated for the exercise.
Executive Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Alhaji Nasir Kwarra has expressed the commitment of NPC to conduct a qualitative, credible and reliable digital Population and Housing Census for 2023.
The planned 2023 population and housing census, which will be conducted in April 2023, will also measure the level of development in the country.
Independence Day
No matter who wins the 2023 presidential election, Nigeria will celebrate Independence Day for the first time in 8 years without President Muhammadu Buhari at the helm of affairs.
Nigeria became a British protectorate in 1901. However, the country gained Independence in 1960 and since then the country has celebrated Independence Day every year on the 1st of October, the day Nigeria proclaimed independence.
Salary increment for civil servants
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige recently disclosed that the Federal Government will make a pronouncement on salary increases for civil servants in 2023.
Ngige hinted that the government would adjust workers’ salaries to cushion the effect of rising costs of living in the country.
The minister said already the Presidential Committee on Salaries had embarked on a review of the salaries of workers in the country. According to him, the committee is expected to come up with salary adjustment in 2023.
On whether a timeline has been fixed for the implementation of the new salary increase, Ngige said: “As we enter the new year government will make some pronouncements in that direction”.
Fuel subsidy removal
The federal government has earmarked 2023 as the year for fuel subsidy removal. The government had planned to remove fuel subsidy payments in 2022 but suspended the plan when the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatened a national protest for February 1, 2022.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed had disclosed the FG only made provision for fuel subsidy in the 2022 Budget from January to June. According to her, all payments on fuel subsidy ordinarily would have ceased from July 2022.
Announcing a new date for the total removal of fuel subsidy payments, Ahmed said the federal government will do away with the payments by June 2023.
Fuel subsidy payments gulped N2.565 trillion between January and August 2022. In the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, the Federal Government proposed to spend N3.3 trillion on fuel subsidy payments between January and June 2023.
In recommending the removal of fuel subsidy payments, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stressed Nigeria can conserve funds for critical investments in health, education and infrastructure, etc.
Conversation on the payments will take centre stage as Nigerians enter the new year.
Coronation of King Charles III
After reigning for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died in Scotland at the age of 96 in 2022. The passing of Queen Elizabeth II was felt all around the world.
The Queen ascended the throne in 1952 after the death of her father King George VI and reigned through significant eras.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles assumed the kingship. Prince Charles was proclaimed King Charles III during an elaborate ceremony at St James’ Palace, London.
King Charles III would be officially crowned king on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey. The Ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside The Queen Consort
Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the throne in February 1952, but was not crowned until June 1953.
Major tech events of 2023
Nigerians are tech-savvy and would be looking forward to some major tech events in 2023.
The Mobile World Congress (MWC), Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), the International Consumer Electronics Show, the Web Summit, Africa Tech Summit and Social Media Week are some of the major tech events Nigerians look forward to every year. 2023 will be no exception.
Some other tech events Nigerians look forward to in the year are the eNigeria Conference, Smart Cities West Africa, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Google I/O and Google Developer Day.