• Nigeria on the brink; life becoming unbearable – CAN

• Stop blame game, address root causes of challenges – CISLAC

• Implement measures to tackle rising cost of living – NANS

 

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna, Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja and Fred Ezeh, Abuja

A day after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) set a two-week ultimatum for the federal government to address escalating costs of living and economic hardship stemming from the removal of fuel subsidy, more groups are piling pressure on the government to make life more liveable for Nigerians.

The NLC and TUC had, in a joint statement on Thursday, highlighted the non-implementation of a 16-point agreement reached with the government in October 2023, which was meant to alleviate the suffering caused by the hike in fuel prices and the devaluation of the naira.

The labour movements expressed concern over the widespread hunger, eroded purchasing power, and increased insecurity that have plagued Nigerians as a result of these policies. They argued that despite the warnings and demands, the government has shown a lack of response and concern for the plight of the citizens.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), civil society organisations and the National Association of Nigerian Students are urging the government to settle down and seek an end to the hellish times that Nigerians are passing through.

Northern CAN raised the alarm that Nigeria was currently on the brink. The group noted that the on-going economic hardship and increasing security challenges across the country have made life unbearable for ordinary Nigerians.

In a statement on Friday by its Secretary General, Elder Sunday Oibe, the Northern CAN advised President Bola Tinubu to settle down to tackle the challenges so that the country could bounce back.

The statement read in part: “High cost of foodstuffs, transportation, goods and services have made life difficult for many Nigerians. The epileptic power supply has led to the collapse of many small businesses. 

“The continued decline in the value of the naira and the seeming inability of the government to address the situation has completely weakened the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.

“The situation is further compounded by escalating insecurity occasioned by rampant killings and kidnapping for ransom. Government must take urgent steps to address the depressing economic and escalating security situation in the country.

“Northern CAN also noted the rampaging activities of bandits in Plateau State and other parts of the country in recent time. We are saddened by the attacks by bandits in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau where many people were killed and several houses burnt barely a month after several communities in Barakin Ladi, Bokkos and the same Mangu, were raided by bandits resulting in the killings of over 300 people. These killings have continued because the perpetrators have never been brought to justice.

“We have continued to wonder why government has not been able to hold anybody accountable for the mass killings going on in the country.  Unless justice is done, by ensuring that the perpetrators and whoever are the sponsors are brought to book, all the talks about peace may be a mere rhetoric,” the body said.

Northern CAN regretted that kidnapping and banditry have surfaced in Abuja, hitherto considered a safe haven.

“The brutal killings of traditional rulers in Ekiti and Kwara states and the abduction of school children among others too numerous to mention is an indication that Nigeria is on the brink.”

The Christian body commended the security agencies for their sacrifices and patriotism, urging not to relent in their efforts. The body also solicited support for the security agencies.

The group described as disturbing the inauguration of a security outfit by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in Nasarawa State,

“Northern CAN wishes to state in strong terms that allowing any ethno-cultural group to set up a security outfit, is an invitation to anarchy. In the interest of peace and security, government should not handle this issue with kid glove. No ethnic group should be allowed to form an exclusive security outfit,” it noted.

On the issue of relocating FAAN and some Departments of CBN from Abuja to Lagos, the group regretted that ethnic and regional sentiments were being introduced in a harmless policy “meant to streamline operations and make the agencies more effective and reduce cost. We should learn to look at government policies from an objective point of view rather than from regional and tribal perspectives.

“We call on Nigerians to support the present administration to overcome the eight years of calamity and retrogression of the failed administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Northern CAN calls on President Bola Tinubu to settle down and squarely tackle these challenges so that Nigeria will bounce back.”

In the same vein, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) on Friday emphasised the need for the government to take responsibility and implement effective measures to address the country’s challenges.

In a state statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the group criticised the government for blaming opposition parties for inciting protests, instead of acknowledging and addressing the root causes of the issues at hand, adding that the CSOs “are making every effort to see that the government take their responsibility seriously in terms of ensuring that there are effective measures and policies that are put in place in order to address the challenges we are facing in the country.

“For people to start coming out in the streets for protests, it speaks a lot as to the seriousness of the security and economic situation in the country. This has been our call all the time, that people are suffering, the country is going in the wrong direction in terms of socio-economic policies, and now we are seeing the consequences.

“For far too long, CSOs and other stakeholders have been calling the attention of the government to the looming socio-economic consequences of the bad decisions and policies of the government that will have a negative impact on the lives of the citizens.

“Due to the negligence of the government and their insensitivity for the plight of Nigerians, the insecurity and economic hardship are only increasing in the country and the President is busy blaming opposition parties for instigating the protests by the citizens.

“Leadership is all about responsibilities; the government must take the sole responsibility of ensuring that the current insecurity and economic issues are resolved in a way that satisfies the needs for Nigerians.

“The Civil Society Organizations like always are at the fore front in advising and recommending for the government on ways to effectively solve the problems we are facing in the country. CSOs take their responsibilities seriously and we always put ourselves out there making demands to the government on behalf of the Nigerian people.”

Also, President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lucky Emonefe, said the Zone D Coordinator of NANS had already issued a14-day ultimatum to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to implement concrete measures to tackle the rising cost of living crisis in the country.

He said the students’ body would not hesitate to mobilise for mass protests across the country if something is not done urgently within the 14-day period to tackle the socioeconomic hardships being faced by Nigerians.

He, however, frowned at the activities of some Vice Chancellors who he accused of increasing school fees and other levies, in spite of the hardship in the country. He asked the President to quickly prevail on the Vice Chancellors to reverse the decisions on hike in fees or face unfriendly mass actions from the students.

“Undoubtedly, things are hard for Nigerians this period, and students seem to be worst hit in this harsh state of things in this country. Cost of food, transportation, basic items, and general cost of living has gone beyond the financial power of an average Nigerian.

“We have demanded urgent interventions in terms of food items, means of transportation for the students, and other things that would ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerian students, but that is not coming. This is the reason for the 14-day ultimatum.

“Sadly, the students loan that was promised last year has not been implemented for whatever reason. Things should change for good as quickly as possible to avoid unfriendly mass actions from the students,” he said.