In anticipation of a planned nationwide protest addressing the pervasive issues of hardship, poverty, and the high cost of living, the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to engage in dialogue with the protesters.
The protest, tagged ‘EndBadGovernance,’ has gained significant traction on social media and is scheduled to take place across all states of the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August.
The organisers of the protest have chosen to remain anonymous, adding an element of mystery to the upcoming demonstrations.
Concerned about the potential economic implications, the lawmakers are urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address the concerns raised by the protesters.
This resolution was part of the Caucus’ discussions at their end-of-session dinner in Abuja.
Briefing journalists after the dinner on Tuesday, Hon Kingsley Chinda, Chairman of the Caucus, expressed the need for the government to engage with the protesters and consider their grievances.
He emphasized the importance of addressing these issues amicably to prevent further unrest.
“We also appealed to the government to dialogue with the planned protesters and also look at some of the messages they are raising, the critical areas that need government intervention. Government should intervene and ensure that issues are resolved amicably,” he said.
Despite acknowledging the protesters’ concerns, Chinda discouraged the planned protests, citing the current insecurity in various parts of the country. He pointed out that past peaceful protests have often been hijacked by hoodlums, leading to chaos.
“We are not going to encourage any protesters because in the past we have observed in most cases that even peaceful protests have been overtaken by hoodlums and with the insecurity situation in some parts of the country, you may not have control of the gathering of people. So some unscrupulous people may use the opportunity to create chaos,” Chinda stated.
He reiterated the call for the government to engage in dialogue and address the critical issues raised by the protesters to ensure peaceful resolution.
Additionally, Chinda advised the government to adopt a balanced approach in tackling the nation’s insecurity problems, emphasizing the need for both incentives and punitive measures.
“We acknowledge and observe the insecurity situation in the country and we call on the government to use carrot and stick by ensuring that let the result be seen. Let all the security chiefs do what is right to ensure that Nigerians are protected,” he said.
The Caucus also emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for citizens to become self-reliant as a means to combat the economic downturn affecting the country. This, they believe, will help alleviate the economic pressures faced by many Nigerians and foster a more stable socio-economic environment.