Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasized that while President Tinubu’s administration upholds the right of Nigerians to protest, it is also committed to maintaining public order and protecting the rights of others.
According to a statement on Wednesday by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris made this statement during a visit from the Charismatic Bishop Conference at his office in Abuja on Wednesday.
“You see, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in the freedom of everyone within the confines of the law to do what he thinks is right for him. Therefore, the President is not an opponent of protest of any kind but the President is an opponent of violence and anything that will negatively hamper the wellbeing of Nigerians. He believes and he has always been saying that within the tenets of democracy, you have every right to do whatever you want to do provided that right does not infringe on another person’s right,” Idris stated.
The Minister expressed concerns that the planned protest could be hijacked by individuals intending to incite violence, based on global precedents.
“Why everybody is very cautious and very weary of this national protest is because we have seen what has happened around the world. We know that it’s almost impossible to hold this protest and then have peace at the end of the day. We cannot do that because some people are waiting to take the laws into their own hands,” he said.
Idris conveyed that President Tinubu is fully aware of the genuine concerns and complaints expressed by Nigerians and is actively working to implement effective policies to alleviate the challenges faced by the citizenry.
He highlighted an innovative policy where stipends would be paid to young university and polytechnic graduates pending their formal employment.
“But beyond that, there is also another new policy that the President has formulated, which will begin to be seen very soon and that is that all young men and women who have finished universities and polytechnics and have certificates and have done their mandatory NYSC and have not been able to get jobs, will have something from the government to keep them afloat until the time they get jobs,” Idris explained.
The Minister also pointed out the President’s dedication to the welfare of Nigerian workers, noting the establishment of the N70,000 national minimum wage following extensive discussions with the Organized Labour Unions.
Idris highlighted the introduction of the Compressed National Gas (CNG) policy as a game changer for Nigeria’s economy, potentially reducing transportation costs by about 60% and providing a viable alternative to petrol and diesel.
He stated, “Henceforth, any government procurement of vehicles or machinery must have a component of CNG embedded in the contracts.”
Additionally, the Minister noted significant improvements in the country’s security situation, particularly on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, which has seen remarkable improvements under the Tinubu administration.
In response, Archbishop Leonard Kawas, President General of the Charismatic Bishops Conference, dissociated the conference from the planned national protest and expressed their commitment to peace.
“Your Excellency, recently we received some calls from some other religious organizations and other organizations asking us to join in preparation for a nationwide protest, which would start from 1st August 2024. We are here to let you know that we do not think the same. That we have rather decided to go all out and call for a truce. We have decided to sue for peace and humbly request that our brothers and sisters who are aggrieved in one way or the other, that they should give us some time while we continue to communicate and negotiate with this government on areas that are pertinent to them,” he said.
Archbishop Kawas acknowledged the progress made by the Tinubu administration in social investment, the introduction of the Student Loan Scheme, security, infrastructure development, and the implementation of the N70,000 National Minimum Wage.
The Charismatic Bishop Conference also presented a Meritorious Service Award to the Minister during the visit.