Civil Society Groups Ask Govt To Engage Civic Space To Tackle Economic Sabotage, Stabilize National Economy, Restore Confidence Of The Populace 

“GOVERNMENT MUST ENGAGE THE CIVIC SPACE TO TACKLE ECONOMIC SABOTAGE, STABILIZE OUR NATIONAL ECONOMY AND RESTORE PEOPLES’ CONFIDENCE”

BEING THE COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF AN INTERACTIVE SESSION OF THE YOUTH BUREAU, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL/ECONOMIC STAKEHOLDERS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION ON TUESDAY, 13TH. FEBRUARY, 2024

PREAMBLE:-

This Interactive, Town Hall meeting was convened to empathize, educate, inform and sensitize on the socio economic realities of common citizens, civic trenches stakeholders on contemporary socio-economic conditions of our communities. It is guided by the principles that, a stable peaceful polity is a desideratum for economic growth and prosperity for all.

The town hall meeting after exhaustive presentations, deliberations and questions and answers on critical national issues, notes the parlous state of our national economy, which is product of decades of economic mis-governance, policy summersaults, abuse of office as well as unbridled corruption. This was further compounded by the crisis of global economic meltdown, occasioned by the Covid-19 lockdown.

The session notes and applauds the economic reforms initiatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and appreciates the truism that all genuine and sincere reforms like the ones the Federal Government is pursuing, comes with a lot of pains and inconveniences which requires sacrifice and understanding from the citizens.

It often times comes with grave socio-economic dislocations which, inevitably engenders lasting solutions to the socio-economic ailments bedevilling societies leading to sustainable growth and development. It notes with concern, the ferment of social restiveness across gamut of the nation which malignant detractors and unpatriotic elements are striving to channel to heat up the polity and create social chaos particularly in major commercial cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

Participants expressed genuine patriotic fervour to overcome the present economic challenges, with deep conviction that there would be sunlight at the base of the tunnel.

COMMUNIQUE:-

1. The meeting calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to engage the civic space to firm up support base for policy reforms and economic re-engineering and, for effective delivery on set goals.

2. Federal Government is hereby called upon to enter into strategic partnership with civil societies’ stakeholders to combat “Economic Saboteurs”.

3. All conscientious patriots and nationalists should bond to protect our collective heritage, and immediate communities.

4. That Nigeria’s present economic challenges is a global phenomenon of which the resort to blame game is detrimental to national health and security. That the Nigerian people must be conscious and determined to overcome this challenges and trying times through sacrifice and like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu admonished, “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do”.

5. Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of the country, that is critical to the socio-economic viability, stability of not just Nigeria but the entire sub-continental region, we demand concerted efforts to ensure its seamless flow as a fast growing, global, smart city.

6. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) should embark on a massive campaign and sensitization against insatiable desire for foreign luxury products. The campaign must begin with government officials, politicians and elite. This is how to provide leadership towards stemming over-dollarization of the economy.

7. There is Dire imperatives to Stem Acute Inflation, its attendant hardships with Accessible Micro -Credit Scheme, Invisible Hand of the State Moderation of Staple Food Prices as well as Establishment of Social Welfare Schemes.

7. Pending the manifestation of long term solutions to enshrine True, Equitable Federation, Corporate Organizations and Public Institutions must embrace Large Scale Farming to tackle Food Insecurity.

8. The Federal and State Governments are urged to Replicate this Civil Societies/Social Stakeholders Interactive Town Hall Meetings across the country in order to get the buy-in of the masses to the present socio-economic realities.

9. The states governments are called upon to rise to the occasion of Nigeria’s food crisis and low industrial capacity since they own the land according to law, by investing massively in food production and industrialization of the Nigerian economy through policies and programmes in collaboration with the federal government.

10. The Nigerian people are enjoined to keep away from rumour mongers, peddlers of fake and inciting information meant to provoke public unrest which is detrimental to public health and safety.

11. The organized labour is cautioned to sheathe their recurring threats of resort to strike as a blackmail weapon against the federal government, but rather urged to embrace dialogue and constructive civil engagements like this town hall meeting at all times don’t with both the citizens and the government for a better future for all Nigerians.

12. The meeting advocated the tinkering with Nigeria’s constitution to birth devolution of powers to the sub nationals for a secured, safe and prosperous federal republic of Nigeria.

13. The Lagos State government was commended for its laudable programmes and policies which have impacted positively on its people in several spheres and urged to do more, even as other states are enjoined to follow in it’s footsteps for a peaceful and prosperous federal republic of Nigeria.

14. The media is enjoined to report objectively and patriotically the deliberations of this town hall meeting as their own contribution to nation building.

15. The Nigerian people are admonished to keep faith with democracy no matter it’s imperfections and challenges, due to the fact that it is the best form of government because of it’s inherent tenets of citizens participation in the decision making process which is sancrosanct.

Signed by

1.Razaq Olokoba Campaign for Dignity in Governance

2. Linus Okoroji Humanity Services Project

3. Nelson Ekujumi Centre for Social and Economic Rights

4. Omotaje Olawale Saint Workbond International Network

5. Oladosu Razaq Grassroots Democratic Initiative

6. Gbenga Moses Soloki COSEG

7. Jubril Ogundimu COSEG

8. Alex Omotehinse Centre for Human & Socio-Economic Rights

9. Raji Rasheed Oyewunmi Movement for Democratic Change

10. Ayodele Badmus Nollywood Actor/Film Producer

11. Shina Loremikan Frontline Rights Promoter

12. Balogun Hameed FSERC

13. Raheem Ajayi CDHR

14. Bakare Adeoye Bakky Nollywood/Film maker

15. Prince Rotimi Adeniyi Persons Living With Disability

16. Kola Odepeju Writers for Good Governance

17. Funso Mojuba Grassroots Monitor Initiative

18. Gbemisola Akosa Centre for 21st Century Issues

19. Princess Shakirat Dosunmu Salamotu Dosunmu Skill Acquisition

20. Oyinlola Akande Iya Oloja

21. Taofeek Badmus Oodua Revolutionary Front