The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) congratulates Nigerians from all walks of life who came out in their hundreds to protest President Tinubu-led government’s harsh and inhumane policies, such as the unilateral withdrawal of fuel subsidies, escalating food prices, the depreciation of the Naira, rising electricity tariffs, excessive governance expenses, budget padding, pervasive insecurity, and other significant national issues, which have resulted in unparalleled hardship, pushing millions of citizens into severe poverty.
The protests could have been prevented if the government had been more attentive to the grievances of the Nigerian people. From all corners of the country, the outcry against hunger and poor governance was unmistakable. However, due to the government’s lack of regard for the citizens’ concerns, every plea fell on deaf ears.
Sadly, even in the face of the protests, with lives lost and properties destroyed, the Tinubu administration remained indifferent to the suffering of its citizens. It took a significant amount of public pressure for the president to finally address the nation regarding the protests. Yet, his speech was filled with rhetoric and failed to offer any real solutions to the ongoing food crisis.
In a more rational society, the government’s responsibility is to fulfill the wishes of the people they have been elected to represent. Unfortunately, in our current environment, the situation is quite the opposite.
How can a government eliminate subsidies on essential commodities like fuel, impacting almost every aspect of people’s lives, and also devaluing the Naira, without consultations, and without implementing strategies to alleviate the effects on citizens, and still expect life to carry on as usual for the people?
Despite all the hardships Nigerians are enduring, the only solution the government can come up with is distributing what they call palliative.
The government’s choice to rely on providing palliatives, instead of offering long-term and sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by Nigerians, is yet another sign of the lack of capacity and inefficiency within President Tinubu’s Economic Management Team.
Not only are the palliatives being offered ineffective, but they also serve to diminish citizens’ dignity, and further foster corruption within government circles.
The Nigerian citizens are left in despair despite the government’s claims of making efforts. The question arises: where is all the money going? It is disheartening to see only the poor suffering, with hardship escalating daily.
The president’s failure to provide a clear solution to the nation’s problems raises concerns, and it shows lack of knowledge and capacity within this administration to address national issues.
Fellow citizens, CHRICED advocates the importance of active participation in governance processes. We encourage you to fully engage, stay informed about available resources, and closely monitor the activities of your local, state, and federal representatives.
Hold them accountable for their actions and prioritize the needs of your community over personal gain. When it comes to elections, select leaders who are credible, trustworthy, and committed to serving the people. Your vote is a potent instrument for change.
For future elections, vote wisely to secure a brighter future for all; otherwise, we risk perpetuating the same problems or witnessing them worsen.
CHRICED urges the Tinubu administration to heed the concerns of the people, as ignoring them undermines the foundation of democracy.
Again, we salute the citizen protests against hunger and ineffective governance. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God and service to humanity.”
Signed:
Comrade Zikirullahi M. Ibrahim
Executive Director
