The Coordinator of Northern Agenda for Good Governance & Allied Groups, Comrade Hashim Bala Pali BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi The camelb...
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| The Coordinator of Northern Agenda for Good Governance & Allied Groups, Comrade Hashim Bala Pali |
BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi
The camelback of the nationwide hardships protest in Bauchi was on its set Thursday broken when the Northern Agenda for Good Governance & Allied Groups decided to call off the protest in the state for what it described as the greater interest of peace and stability of Bauchi and Nigeria.
It said, "We decided to call it off in the greater interest of peace and stability of Bauchi State and Nigeria as a whole as we realized that it is better we send the message through the press than to allow some unknown and perhaps irresponsible elements hijack the whole thing with the good intentions into something we all will not like".
The Coordinator of Northern Agenda for Good Governance & Allied Groups, Comrade Hashim Bala Pali, appreciated the support from their members and fellow citizens across all divides for the initially planned civil prote
He said: "We are one of the leading civil society organizations that along with other groups of like interest have engaged relevant stakeholders and security agencies towards holding the nationwide peaceful protest over the hard living conditions of Nigerians. These protests are scheduled to be held from today 1st August to 10th August 2024".
Comrade Hashim Pali explained that the issues they feel very strongly about included oil exploration in the Kolmani area commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari at which occasion President Bola Tinubu was present about two years ago.
The groups regretted that the exploration site had been abandoned and work had stopped on this very important project of significant socio-economic and developmental interest to not only the North East but the entire country as a whole.
He frowned, "The issue is even more worrisome considering the fact during his campaign visit to the North East, President Tinubu promised to continue with work in this regard but that is not happening.As such, we demand an explanation for what is happening and resumption of work at the site without further delay".
The Groups Coordinator said that they observed like most Nigerians that the root cause of the hunger, starvation and other difficulties faced by our people is the removal of subsidy in PMS as announced by the President in his inaugural address.
"Since then, life has become meaningless to the majority of our citizens, hence we join the popular call by compatriots for the return of the subsidy regime with immediate effect. The survival of our people is better than policy cosmetics and window dressing that is not achieving any result. So let's go back to subsidy".
They also observed that it was insensitive of the Federal government to introduce a high increase in electricity tariff at a time when most Nigerians are struggling to have a square meal a day, saying the tariff increase is without human face and not in the best interest of the country.
According to the groups, the electricity tariff increase has to be reversed as other alternatives of providing electricity at affordable prices should be explored rather than a sheer increase in the tariff.
"It is also our position that the student loan fund introduced to cushion the effect of the hike in fees paid by students in tertiary institutions of learning across the country will not address the problems of access to quality education to the average Nigerian in both short and the long run".
The groups suggested that economic policies that improve the purchasing capacity of the average citizens, add value to our currency and others alike be preferred to make it possible for most citizens to afford tertiary education without much ado.
"Review of Forex and other macro and micro economic policies of the government. So far, most of the economic policies of the Tinubu administration do not seem to be working as their direct consequence is an increase in the suffering of the citizens. To this end, we demand that rising rate inflation should be checked while our land borders should be reopened."
"We similarly observe that most of our leaders are taking the people for granted. This is why it is only during national emergencies like this time that some leaders remember to engage citizens on what the government is doing about these problems. It shouldn't be so".
They cited an example that none of the ministers in President Tinubu's cabinet and other appointees returned home to discuss the issues and the way forward with the people, while representatives in the National Assembly were only a handful in their constituencies at this crucial time.
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