APA-Lagos (Nigeria) It is generally felt that controversial reforms by the new administration in Nigeria, which is barely eight months old, have forced people onto the streets in opposition to anti-people policies which they blame for ”pushing the masses down the abyss of abject poverty and hardships”.
By Goddy Ikeh
Tens of thousands of Nigerians last Tuesday participated in nationwide protests organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to protest the high cost of transportation, cutthroat prices of food and insecurity across the country.
Before the protests, which was the first of two days of civil disobedience, there were recorded pockets of demonstrations in some Nigerian states in the previous week. Similarly, protests were held by some groups of Nigerians in Lagos and Benin, the capital of Edo state against the hardship they are facing.
And before the announced its two-day nationwide protests, there were clear evidence that the patience of millions of Nigerians was already at its ebb as traditional and religious leaders could not hold back the growing disenchantment among Nigerians over the mounting hardship and insecurity.
For instance, recently, the northern traditional rulers warned the federal government in no uncertain terms that “we can’t pacify the people anymore” as the people groan daily due to mounting transportation costs, rising food prices and an insecurity crisis in northern Nigeria and other regions of the country.
The monarchs from the north under the umbrella of Northern Traditional Council led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar told the federal government that unless necessary action is taken, insecurity, poverty and unemployment especially in the north have made Nigeria sit on a powder keg waiting to explode.
Speaking at the Arewa House, Kaduna during the 6th executive Northern Traditional Council committee meeting, the Sultan said that the traditional rulers, religious leaders as well as State governors had been for years pacifying the masses and the jobless youth from revolting against political leaders at the helm of affairs.
“It is getting to a level that traditional leaders could no longer pacify the people from revolting against government and political leaders who are supposed to find solutions to their lingering socio-economic plight,” the Sultan said.
And for the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, and the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, the hardship is paralysing socioeconomic lives in communities and that hunger is causing a serious humanitarian crisis.
According to the Catholic Bishops, Nigeria is in her worst times in terms of insecurity, economy, and corruption and called for sincere, accountable, and collective effort to halt the current slide and steer the nation towards a more secure and prosperous future.
Specifically, the CBCN President, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, issued a stark assessment of the current situation in the country, describing it as the ‘worst of times,’ particularly with regard to security and the economy, and described the state of affairs in the nation as tumultuous. The Archbishop drew attention to the stark realities facing Nigerians, emphasizing the persistent insecurity and economic turmoil, despite substantial security votes.
“If we cast a cursory glance at the present state of our nation, we are inclined to conclude that this seems to be the worst of times for our country in the areas of security and the economy,” he said. According to him, kidnappings for ransom, senseless killings, and the rise of banditry have left communities across Nigeria in the grip of fear and paralysis.
The Archbishop criticised the government’s reform agenda, which has led to the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and a steep decline in naira’s value.
His words: “The reform agenda of the present government has added to the plight of Nigerians. With the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market, there has been a sharp increase in the pump price of petroleum products and a steep decline in the value of the naira. “Indeed, there is a free fall of the national currency. High, spiralling inflation has made it difficult for the average Nigerian to access basic commodities, including food items and medication.
“As a result of the government’s reform agenda, millions of Nigerians have been reduced to a life of grinding poverty, wanton suffering, and untold hardship as never before in our national history. In a bid to survive, an increasing number of the poor have resorted to begging.”
“Regrettably, an extensive brain drain continues in this way in our nation, where manpower is needed to revamp the ailing economy and foster national development. In the midst of the frenzy to Japa abroad for better job opportunities, many young Nigerians fall easy prey to human traffickers, who traffic them abroad for sexual exploitation, cheap labour or organ harvesting.” The Catholic Bishops were equally critical of government’s efforts to address these issues, calling the reform agenda ‘counterproductive’ and a ‘therapy worse than the disease.’
The Bishops also called for sincerity, accountability, and a collective effort to steer Nigeria away from its current trajectory towards a more secure and prosperous future.
In the same vein, the President of CAN, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel Okoh, commended Archbishop Ugorji for his unwavering commitment to addressing issues such as bad governance, insecurity, injustice, and economic hardship. Okoh said Ugorji’s “consistency in providing insight and guidance on issues that border on bad governance, insecurity (including food insecurity), injustice and extreme economic conditions is an inspiration to us all.”
Okoh expressed intrigue and support for the Catholic Church’s efforts to foster inclusivity and dialogue. Archbishop Okoh also acknowledged the daunting challenges faced by churches in Nigeria, from constant attacks on clergy to the struggle for the right to worship places. “As members of the Nigerian Christian community, we acknowledge the multi-faceted challenges faced by our churches on a daily basis. “From a deliberate attempt to edge out Christianity in certain parts of the country through denial of Right of Occupancy for churches that want to erect their worship places to targeted serial attacks, arson and kidnapping of clergymen for ransom that has now become a daily occurrence. The high level of insecurity, runaway inflation and hunger are areas of serious concern as well.”
The universities are left out as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, says that a Nigerian professor currently earns the equivalent of $210 per month. The union lamented the current harrowing economic condition of Nigerians and called on the federal government to accelerate the process of arriving at a minimum living wage as demanded by the NLC.
The Bauchi zone of the ASUU led by its Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Naumwa Voncir, told a news conference in Jos that the free fall in the value of the Naira against international currencies, the distortion in the petroleum sector corruptly called “subsidy removal”, “have ushered in a regime of high cost of transportation, unaffordable prices of commodities, job losses and ballooning joblessness, insecurity and general atmosphere of despair and despondency in the country.”
According to him, the failure of government to provide effective measures that would cushion the effect of its anti-poor policies has further pushed the Nigerian masses down the abyss of “abject poverty and hardships”.
For the NLC which declared the 2-day National Protest on 27th and 28th of February, it was to demonstrate outrage on the mounting hardship and insecurity around the nation.
“If demands are not met after the nationwide protests to issue a seven-day notice that will expire on the 2nd day of March, 2024 to the federal government after which an indefinite nationwide strike will ensue.
“That Nigerian workers and people are not interested in empty talk now but action so, calls on all of affiliates, state councils and Civil Society allies to start mobilizing across the nation for effective action as the deadline approaches,” Ajaero said.
But reacting to these protests, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammad Idris, blamed it on speculators, unscrupulous individuals sabotaging Nigeria’s reform efforts.
The minister stressed that relevant regulatory and security agencies had been placed on the red alert to ensure that malpractices capable of undermining the Naira were averted and that those engaged in such acts were brought to book, adding that the federal government would not allow its efforts to be jeopardised.
“Sadly, as with any effort to reform and sanitise a system entrenched in long-term malpractice, the CBN’s efforts have been met with ferocious resistance from speculators and other unscrupulous players within and outside our country, who profit from dysfunction and opacity.
“To tackle this, regulatory and enforcement agencies of the government have been working round the clock in the past few days, joining forces to address these efforts at undermining the reforms. That strategic alliance has led to the intelligence-led identification, investigation and sanctioning of individuals and organisations involved in illegal activities and sabotage within the forex market.
“Relevant regulatory and security agencies have been directed to remain vigilant to ensure that malpractices capable of undermining our currency are averted and that those engaged in these acts are brought to book,” Idris said.
However, reacting to the protests and appeals by traditional rulers and religious groups, Nigerian President Tinubu said that his administration would remain steadfast in implementing necessary economic reforms to facilitate business growth and create investment opportunities that support the nation’s growing population.
Speaking while receiving a delegation from the Corporate Council on Africa, CCA, led by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Florizelle Liser in Abuja, on Thursday, February 22, 2024, Tinubu reiterated his unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic growth and stability, emphasizing that he was not relenting until his vision for Nigeria was achieved.
”We are challenged, and we believe we will overcome the challenges. I have a can-do attitude that must be translated into a must-do attitude. We have a good team, and we must remain focused to get the goal accomplished.”
GIK/APA