The Nigeria International Non-Governmental Organization Forum and the Civil Society Networks in Nigeria with the support from Development Research and Projects Centre (DRPC), have called on the federal government to reverse recent increase in fuel price and expedite actions in introducing palliative measures to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
They also urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on youth unemployment and embark on economic resuscitation with a view to enhance skills and create jobs so as to make them self-reliant and reduce their vulnerability for recruitment into criminal activities.
Briefing journalists on the state of the nation yesterday, the Chairman, North East Civil Society Network, Amb Ahmed Shehu, expressed serious concerns about the state of the nation and scale of insecurity in some parts the region, ranging from economic hardship, insurgency, kidnapping and youth restiveness that have become too common.
He stated that the recent subsidy removal by the government without providing reliefs has aggravated sufferings and hardship in the country.
Shehu urged the government to rehabilitate the nation’s refineries, introduce affordable transportation, explore other alternative means of energy, review workers’ salary and include Civil Society into the presidential steering committee on palliative so as to represent the interest of the non-working class
According to him, “The current economic situation has adverse effect on productive men and women from active socio political and economic activities like farming and other means of livelihood. Hence, there should be deliberate attempt at empowering the citizens towards meeting their basic needs of life, through effective and full implementation of Social Investment Programs Law.
“As a result of the cost-of-living crisis our sector has witnessed a growing demand for nonprofit services, a reduction in donations because of the crisis and an increase in energy costs (fuel subsidy removal) is making it difficult for nonprofits to stay afloat.”
He advised government at all levels to improve on their engagement and sensitization of citizens before taking major decisions, especially on issues of national importance and also leverage on the presence of National Orientation agency and CSOs networks and its partners in enlightening the citizens to understand its policies and programme, their roles, rights and responsibilities. This will help in ensuring good governance, inclusiveness and effective service delivery.
Shehu also called on the federal government to employ community policing and the use of technology in the fight against banditry, insurgency and kidnapping in the country.
He suggested that multi security coordinated attack be introduced in wiping away red spots using land and air forces, particularly across all the volatile areas in the Northwest, North Central and North Eastern parts of the country.
Also speaking, the CSO Representative, Humanitarian Country Team (HTC), Comrade Peter Egwudah, lamented that the crisis in the North-East has protracted for over a decade, with over 2.1 million people displaced a result of natural disaster like flooding and human induced actions like insurgency, farmers, herders’ crisis among others.
He disclosed that plans are underway to commence humanitarian action in the north west region to support people affected as a result of the activities of banditry and kidnapping in the region.
Egwudah called on the government to implement the UN Localization Agenda to ensure that aids are effectively and efficiently delivered in crisis areas by NGOs without the support of anybody.
