August 01, (THEWILL) – The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations/Labour Centre, rose from its one-day Town Hall meeting in Lagos, Tuesday, with a commendation of President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast, as well as the measures he outlined to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on petroleum products on Nigerians.
The Coalition in its Communiqué at the end of the meeting commended President Tinubu for the bold economic decision of removing the subsidy, saying the gains of the removal of fuel subsidy have started manifesting in increased savings of an unprecedented one trillion naira within two months and thus enabled the government to have more funds to deliver democratic dividends to the citizenry.
While noting that the economic inconvenience of fuel subsidy removal is affecting all strata of Nigerian society, the Civil Society Coalition enjoined Nigerians to show understanding and patience on this matter with the optimism that the fuel subsidy removal aftermath is a temporary sacrifice to pay for a better and enduring future.
The Coalition called on the three tiers of government to put in place social safety mechanisms to alleviate the conditions of the vulnerable in line with global best practices.
It also said that the palliatives and other measures put in place to address the economic plight of Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy must be monitored for transparency and accountability sake by the civil society organisations
The Coalition also said in its Communiqué that “the Nigerian people are determined to defend democracy with all legitimate means necessary for our collective good.
“Nigerians and groups are enjoined to ventilate their views on the fuel subsidy removal and other issues within the purview of the law and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked or provoked to anarchy by anti-democratic elements.
“We commend Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state for outlining his administration measures to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
“We say no to breakdown of law and order in the guise of exercise of fundamental rights of citizens and call on the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities.
“We wish to alert Nigerians to beware of the threat to national security by persons and groups using the fuel subsidy removal issue for political capital.
“Local government council administrations are enjoined to follow the paths of the federal and state governments in outlining their palliatives and measures to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the citizenry. Signed by the following organizations above.”
Those in attendance at the Town Hall meeting include Razak Olokoba of Campaign for Dignity in Governance; Nelson Ekujumi, Centre for Social and Economic Rights; Titi Akosa, Centre for 21st Century Issues; Linus Okoroji of Humanity Services Project and Raji Rasheed Oyewunmi, Yoruba Citizen Action for Change, amongst others.
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
